Subjective effects and changes in steroid hormone concentrations in humans following acute consumption of alcohol.
BACKGROUND
GABAA receptors are an important site of action of endogenous neurosteroids and an important mediator of several behavioral effects of alcohol. This study examined the effects of alcohol on plasma steroid hormone concentrations on the hypothesis that the endocrine effects mediate some of the subjective effects of alcohol.


METHODS
Thirty-two healthy subjects (17 men) with no history of a substance use disorder participated in this human laboratory study. All subjects consumed three standard drinks of grain alcohol. Subjective measures and blood samples for steroid concentrations were collected at baseline and 40 min after alcohol consumption.


RESULTS
Alcohol increased self-reported stimulation, alcohol liking, and desire for more alcohol. Alcohol also increased pregnenolone (PREG) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations, while it decreased progesterone (PROG) and allopregnanolone (ALLO) concentrations, as well as ALLO/PREG and PROG/PREG ratios. In men, the change in PREG concentration was significantly correlated with alcohol liking, while the alcohol-induced change in ALLO concentration correlated significantly with both alcohol liking and desire for more alcohol.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that endogenous neurosteroids mediate some of the subjective effects of alcohol. Efforts to replicate these findings should aim to specify more clearly the nature and time course of the effects.
Pierucci-Lagha
Amira
A
Department of Psychiatry, Alcohol Research Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Durham VA Medical Center, NC 27705, USA.
Covault
Jonathan
J
Feinn
Richard
R
Khisti
Rahul T
RT
Morrow
A Leslie
AL
Marx
Christine E
CE
Shampine
Lawrence J
LJ
Kranzler
Henry R
HR
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D000737:Androstenols / Q000097:blood*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011278:Pregnanes / Q000097:blood*
D000737:Androstenols; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011278:Pregnanes; D000431:Ethanol