Estrogen prevents 5-HT1A receptor-induced disruptions of prepulse inhibition in healthy women.
The sex steroid hormone, estrogen, has been proposed to be protective against schizophrenia. This study examined the effects of estrogen treatment on modulation of prepulse inhibition (PPI) by the serotonin-1A (5-HT1A) receptor partial agonist, buspirone. PPI is a model of sensorimotor gating, which is deficient in schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. A total of 11 healthy women were tested following four acute treatment conditions: placebo, buspirone (Buspar; 5 mg), estradiol (Estrofem; 2 mg), and combined buspirone and estradiol. Electromyogram activity was measured across three interstimulus intervals (ISI): 30, 60, and 120 ms. There was no significant effect of either drug treatment on startle amplitude or habituation. At 120 ms ISI, buspirone caused a significant disruption of PPI and pretreatment with estrogen prevented this disruption. Estrogen treatment, administered in the appropriate experimental conditions, prevented PPI deficits induced by 5-HT(1A) receptor activation and may therefore also play a protective role in sensorimotor gating deficits in schizophrenia.
Gogos
Andrea
A
Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory, Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Parkville, VIC, Australia. agogos@mhri.edu.au
Nathan
Pradeep J
PJ
Guille
Valérie
V
Croft
Rodney J
RJ
van den Buuse
Maarten
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002065:Buspirone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects*; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000502:physiology*; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004967:Estrogens; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D002065:Buspirone