Marked decrease of plasma neuroactive steroids during alcohol withdrawal

E. Romeo; A. Brancati; A. De Lorenzo; P. Fucci; C. Furnari; E. Pompili; G. F. Sasso; G. Spalletta; A. Troisi; A. Pasini

Marked decrease of plasma neuroactive steroids during alcohol withdrawal

E. Romeo, A. Brancati, A. De Lorenzo, P. Fucci, C. Furnari, E. Pompili, G. F. Sasso, G. Spalletta, A. Troisi, A. Pasini

Fondazione Santa Lucia

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The neuroactive steroids allopregnanolone (ALLO) and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) are the most potent endogenous positive modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on GABA(A) receptors, a receptor system presumably responsible for some behavioral responses to alcohol withdrawal. In a group of nine alcoholic subjects, the levels of plasma ALLO and THDOC were markedly lower than those of control subjects during the early withdrawal phase (day 4 and 5), when anxiety and depression scores were higher. In contrast ALLO and THDOC plasma levels did not differ from those of control subjects during the late withdrawal phase when anxiety and depression scores were low. These results suggest that the decrease of neuroactive steroid biosynthesis may contribute to the withdrawal symptoms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	366-369
Number of pages	4
Journal	Clinical Neuropharmacology
Volume	19
Issue number	4
Publication status	Published - 1996

Keywords

Alcohol
Anxiety
Depression
Steroids
Withdrawal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pharmacology (medical)
Clinical Neurology
Neuroscience(all)
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics(all)

Cite this

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title = "Marked decrease of plasma neuroactive steroids during alcohol withdrawal",

abstract = "The neuroactive steroids allopregnanolone (ALLO) and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) are the most potent endogenous positive modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on GABA(A) receptors, a receptor system presumably responsible for some behavioral responses to alcohol withdrawal. In a group of nine alcoholic subjects, the levels of plasma ALLO and THDOC were markedly lower than those of control subjects during the early withdrawal phase (day 4 and 5), when anxiety and depression scores were higher. In contrast ALLO and THDOC plasma levels did not differ from those of control subjects during the late withdrawal phase when anxiety and depression scores were low. These results suggest that the decrease of neuroactive steroid biosynthesis may contribute to the withdrawal symptoms.",

keywords = "Alcohol, Anxiety, Depression, Steroids, Withdrawal",

author = "E. Romeo and A. Brancati and {De Lorenzo}, A. and P. Fucci and C. Furnari and E. Pompili and Sasso, {G. F.} and G. Spalletta and A. Troisi and A. Pasini",

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T1 - Marked decrease of plasma neuroactive steroids during alcohol withdrawal

AU - Romeo, E.

AU - Brancati, A.

AU - De Lorenzo, A.

AU - Fucci, P.

AU - Furnari, C.

AU - Pompili, E.

AU - Sasso, G. F.

AU - Spalletta, G.

AU - Troisi, A.

AU - Pasini, A.

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - The neuroactive steroids allopregnanolone (ALLO) and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) are the most potent endogenous positive modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on GABA(A) receptors, a receptor system presumably responsible for some behavioral responses to alcohol withdrawal. In a group of nine alcoholic subjects, the levels of plasma ALLO and THDOC were markedly lower than those of control subjects during the early withdrawal phase (day 4 and 5), when anxiety and depression scores were higher. In contrast ALLO and THDOC plasma levels did not differ from those of control subjects during the late withdrawal phase when anxiety and depression scores were low. These results suggest that the decrease of neuroactive steroid biosynthesis may contribute to the withdrawal symptoms.

AB - The neuroactive steroids allopregnanolone (ALLO) and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) are the most potent endogenous positive modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on GABA(A) receptors, a receptor system presumably responsible for some behavioral responses to alcohol withdrawal. In a group of nine alcoholic subjects, the levels of plasma ALLO and THDOC were markedly lower than those of control subjects during the early withdrawal phase (day 4 and 5), when anxiety and depression scores were higher. In contrast ALLO and THDOC plasma levels did not differ from those of control subjects during the late withdrawal phase when anxiety and depression scores were low. These results suggest that the decrease of neuroactive steroid biosynthesis may contribute to the withdrawal symptoms.

KW - Alcohol

KW - Anxiety

KW - Depression

KW - Steroids

KW - Withdrawal

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Marked decrease of plasma neuroactive steroids during alcohol withdrawal

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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