Effects of tandospirone, a serotonin-1A agonist, on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of male patients.
BACKGROUND
Serotonin (5-HT) agonists are reported to affect prolactin (PRL) and gonadotropin secretion. A small study was conducted on male patients with generalized anxiety disorders to investigate the clinical and neuroendocrinological effects of the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist tandospirone (TDS) on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.


METHODS
The subjects for the present study included 11 male outpatients. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in this study. The endocrine studies were done before and during TDS administration. Psychiatric ratings were done using the Japanese version of the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.


RESULTS
We found that both state- and trait-anxiety scores were significantly reduced by TDS treatment; there was no significant difference in PRL, gonadotropins or testosterone (T) between the patients and normal controls; TDS administration showed significant stimulatory effects on PRL and T; and PRL change between baseline and TDS steady state (DeltaPRL) did not show a significant correlation with improvement in state or trait-anxiety scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that PRL response may not provide a clinical predictor; (2) PRL level may not reflect the level of anxiety, and 5-HT(1A) may have stimulatory effects on PRL. However, further, double-blind evaluation with a larger sample would be needed for clarification of effects of 5-HT(1A) on the HPG axis.
Kaneda
Y
Y
Department of Neuropsychiatry, The University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan. kaneday@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Fujii
A
A
D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D054833:Isoindoles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012016:Reference Values; D012647:Self-Assessment; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006062:Gonadotropins; D054833:Isoindoles; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C055267:tandospirone; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin