Changes in metabolites of CSF biogenic amines appear to be partially correlated to age but remained diagnosis-dependent. High levels of PRP 5-HT in PFS patients were associated with low CSF 5-HIAA levels in female patients but were not accompanied by any change in serotonergic uptake as assessed by platelet [(3)H]imipramine binding sites. These findings do not allow us to confirm that serotonin metabolism is deregulated in PFS patients.
A highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay was developed to measure 19-nortestosterone (NT), which allowed us to demonstrate this steroid in the plasma of pregnant women. Plasma NT was detectable throughout gestation, reaching values of 12 to 60 pg/ml in the 3rd trimester. These results were validated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. No NT was detectable in the plasma of 12 normal men and 12 nonpregnant women in the mid follicular phase of their cycle (detection limit 4 pg/ml). Our results are compatible with current concepts concerning the possible involvement of 19-norsteroids in an accessory biosynthetic pathway for estrogen in the placenta.
The effects of oral buspirone (BUS, 10 mg) and diazepam (DZP, 10 mg) were studied in 12 healthy women volunteers using subjective ratings, objective tests of psychomotor and cognitive functions and urinary dosage of catecholamine output. Drugs were randomly administered to the same subjects, in a crossover, double-blind study, each drug administration being separated by at least 1 week. BUS subjective effects were less severe than those of DZP and not accompanied by feelings of sleepiness that characterized DZP sedative effects. Furthermore, BUS did not impair psychomotor functioning while DZP induced both an impairment of central sensory processing and, to a lesser extent, an impairment in delayed memory.
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