Effects of acute progesterone administration upon responses to acute psychosocial stress in men.
Animal studies suggest that neuroactive steroids, in particular progesterone and its metabolites, have stress-dampening effects. However, few studies have explored these effects in humans. In this study, we investigated the effects of acute progesterone administration on responses to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Healthy men participated in the TSST 3.5 hrs after intramuscular injection of 0, 50, or 100 mg progesterone (N = 16, 14, and 14). We measured cardiovascular (heart rate, blood pressure), hormonal (plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone, cortisol, and noradrenaline), and subjective (e.g., anxiety, arousal) responses to stress in the three groups. Before the TSST, progesterone injections increased plasma levels without altering physiological or subjective states. Stress produced its expected physiological and subjective effects among placebo-treated individuals. Progesterone 50 mg attenuated peak increases in plasma cortisol and reduced changes in negative mood and alertness after stress, yet it increased plasma noradrenaline and systolic blood pressure. Progesterone 100 mg also attenuated stress-induced increases in alertness and arousal, yet it potentiated stress-induced increases in diastolic pressure. Thus, progesterone dampened some of the psychological effects of stress but produced inconsistent effects on physiological stress responses.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, The University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. echilds@uchicago.edu
Emma
E
Childs
Nicholas T
NT
Van Dam
Harriet
H
de Wit
D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D011374:Progesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine