Changes in visual evoked potentials during the menstrual cycle in young women.
OBJECTIVE
Since, during the menstrual cycle, changes in neuronal activity and in auditory, olfactory, and taste thresholds were found, visual evoked potentials were investigated.


METHODS
In 50 healthy women the latency and the amplitude of P100 wave of pattern reversal visual evoked potentials were measured during the different menstrual phases (follicular, periovular, and luteal), as determined by sonography and serum progesterone level.


RESULTS
Compared with the follicular phase, during the luteal phase significant reduction in latency (101.29+/-4.42 vs. 104.76+/-5.02 ms, P<0.01) and increase in amplitude (10.44+/-3.15 vs. 8.62+/-3.09 microV, P<0.05) were recorded.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluctuations in ovarian steroid hormones affect the excitability of the visual system.
Avitabile
Teresio
T
Eye Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. Clinica.Oculistica@mbox.unict.it
Longo
Antonio
A
Caruso
Salvatore
S
Gagliano
Caterina
C
Amato
Roberta
R
Scollo
Davide
D
Lopes
Rossella
R
Pulvirenti
Luigi
L
Toto
Lisa
L
Torrisi
Benedetto
B
Agnello
Carmela
C
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood
D011374:Progesterone