[The neurotropic effect of progesterone].
Neurological diseases are frequently observed in perimenopausal women and can be characterised through their gender-specific occurrence. These observations raise the question, whether sexual steroids are also involved in neurologic diseases. Epidemiological data have shown, that in Austria in the year 1993 the prescription-rate of psychopharmaca, hypnotics, and analeptics for women between the age of 50 to 55 increased over 300% compared to other age-groups. In males of the same age an increase of the prescription-rate was not observed. Molecular research during the last ten years has found that sexual steroids may interact with the central nervous system via the GABA-receptor. These observations confirm the epidemiological data, that neurologic and psychological functions may be directly influenced by sexual steroids.
Gruber
D M
DM
Klinische Abteilung für Gynäkologische Endokrinologie und Sterilitätsbehandlung, Universitätsklinik für Frauenheilkunde, AKH Wien, Osterreich.
Wieser
F
F
Sator
M
M
Huber
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002979:Climacteric / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000502:physiology*; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000502:physiology
D018079:Receptors, GABA; D011374:Progesterone