Neuroactive steroid changes in response to challenge with the panicogenic agent pentagastrin.
BACKGROUND
Female hormones and female hormone derivatives, including neuroactive steroids (NASs) have been suspected to play a role in the pathophysiology of panic disorder (PD). The panicogenic agent CO(2) has been shown to induce a delayed release of NASs in both brain and plasma of rats. In the present study, we measured NASs plasma levels in response to challenge with another panicogenic agent, pentagastrin, and assessed the effect of ethynil estradiol (EE) pretreatment.


METHODS
A double-blind cross-over placebo-controlled design with randomization of the order of a three day pretreatment of EE (50 microg/day) or placebo was used to assess the effect of a 30 microg iv bolus injection of pentagastrin on the release of allopregnanolone (ALLO) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) into plasma in 15 male PD patients and 10 male healthy volunteers (HV).


RESULTS
After pentagastrin challenge there was a significant release of DHEA and a trend for the release of ALLO. EE pretreatment did not affect the pentagastrin-induced panic response or NAS release.


CONCLUSIONS
Pentagastrin induced release of NASs into plasma, the purpose of which remains to be determined.
Tait
Glendon R
GR
Department of Psychiatry, 1E7.16 MacKenzie Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2B7.
McManus
Karen
K
Bellavance
François
F
Lara
Nathalie
N
Chrapko
Wendy
W
Le Mellédo
Jean-Michel
JM
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010418:Pentagastrin; D011280:Pregnanolone / Q000097:blood*; D011292:Premedication; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011280:Pregnanolone; D010418:Pentagastrin