title: Serum levels of neurosteroids in patients with affective disorders.
abstract: According modern biological hypotheses of the pathogenesis of affective disorders, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction play a special role in the pathogenesis of this condition. Our study shows that the range of neuroprotective neurosteroids is gender- and nosology-dependent. Patients with affective disorders have reduced levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; the most pronounced deficiency of neuroprotective neurosteroids is typical of patients with a single depressive episode. Reduced levels of neurosteroids producing an anabolic effect probably indicate depletion of adaptive capacities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system in affective disorders.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Institute, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tomsk, Russia, rla2003@list.ru.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Levchuk
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Vyalova
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ivanova
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Simutkin
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Lebedeva
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Bokhan
mesh_terms: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate