Effect of ovariectomy and estrogen on [3H]imipramine binding to different regions of rat brain

Effect of castration and testosterone in experimental models of depression in mice.

“…In particular, sex hormones are involved in the etiology of some types of depression (Rehavi, Sepcuti, & Weizman, 1987). In women, emotional lability and depression found in relation to menstruation, postpartum stage of pregnancy, and menopause are often related to a decrease in the levels of circulating sex hormones (Maggi & Perez, 1985; Stockert & De Robertis, 1985), and remissions are best obtained when therapy with antidepressants is associated with hormonal treatment (Oppenheim, 1983). Antidepressant properties also have been attributed to testosterone (Herrmann & Beach, 1976; Klaiber, Broverman, Vogel, & Kobayashi, 1976), and a tendency toward decreased testosterone levels in depressed men has been reported (Rubin et al, 1981).…”

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Limited to Pregnancy

“…Many OCD patients reported an increase in symptoms around their men strual period [18], and antiandrogen therapy in males improves obsessive-compulsive symptoms [19]. Changes in estrogen alter se rotonergic binding sites and serotonergic neu rotransmission may be at least partially mod ulated by changes in estrogen and progester one [20][21][22],…”

“…The serotonergic dysfunction in OCD can be triggered by a derangement in the gonadal steroid system [20][21][22], The effects of gonadal steroids on serotonin are complex and region specific. In rat studies, estrogen has been reported to increase dorsal raphe nucleus se rotonin synthesis and activity, while proges terone causes a decrease in hypothalamic se rotonin accumulation after estrogen priming [23,24], Also, a rise in platelet serotonin dur ing the first trimester of human pregnancy has been reported [25].…”

The aetiology of postpartum psychosis: Why are there no answers?

“…Binding of the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine is often used as a marker of SHT activity since this drug exerts its action primarily through serotoninergic mechanisms, principally presynaptic re-uptake. Two studies have shown imipramine binding in rat CNS to increase following oestrogen treatment (Ravizza et al, 198.5;Rehavi et al, 1987) while another found increased binding following oophorectomy (Stockert and de Robertis, 1985). One source of these differences could have been that different brain areas were examined.…”