title: The other side of progestins: effects in the brain.
abstract: Progestins are a broad class of progestational agents widely differing in their chemical structures and pharmacological properties. Despite emerging data suggest that progestins, besides their action as endometrial protection, can also have multiple nonreproductive functions, much remains to be discovered regarding the actions exerted by these molecules in the nervous system. Here, we report the role exerted by different progestins, currently used for contraception or in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies, in regulating cognitive functions as well as social behavior and mood. We provide evidence that the effects and mechanisms underlying their actions are still confusing due to the use of different estrogens and progestins as well as different doses, duration of exposure, route of administration, baseline hormonal status and age of treated women. We also discuss the emerging issue concerning the relevant increase of these substances in the environment, able to deeply affect aquatic wildlife as well as to exert a possible influence in humans, which may be exposed to these compounds via contaminated drinking water and seafood. Finally, we report literature data showing the neurobiological action of progestins and in particular their importance during neurodegenerative events. This is extremely interesting, since some of the progestins currently used in clinical practice exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in the nervous system, opening new promising opportunities for the use of these molecules as therapeutic agents for trauma and neurodegenerative disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular SciencesCenter of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular SciencesCenter of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy roberto.melcangi@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Roberto Cosimo
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Melcangi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular SciencesCenter of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesaresi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D023421:Models, Animal; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011372:Progestins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011485:Protein Binding; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013739:Testosterone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D011372:Progestins; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: combined oral contraceptive; hormone replacement therapy; neuroprotection; progesterone; testosterone