Advances in neurosteroids: Role in clinical practice

Climacteric

Volumn 16, Issue S1, 2013, Pages 8-17

  Pluchino, N ^a,b   Santoro, A ^a   Casarosa, E ^a   Wenger, J M ^b   Genazzani, A D ^c   Petignat, P ^b   Genazzani, A R ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF PISA   (Italy)

^b UNIVERSITY OF GENEVA   (Switzerland)

^c UNIVERSITY OF MODENA AND REGGIO EMILIA   (Italy)

Author keywords

Allopregnanolone; Dhea; Neurosteroids

Indexed keywords

GESTAGEN; NEUROSTEROID; PRASTERONE; PROGESTERONE; SEX HORMONE;

AGING; ANXIETY; ARTICLE; BEHAVIOR CHANGE; BIOSYNTHESIS; BRAIN METABOLISM; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; CEREBROSPINAL FLUID; CLINICAL PRACTICE; COGNITION; FEMALE FERTILITY; HORMONE SUBSTITUTION; HUMAN; MENOPAUSE; MENSTRUAL CYCLE; METABOLITE; NEUROPROTECTION; NONHUMAN; OVULATION; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; POSTMENOPAUSE; PREGNANCY; PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PUERPERIUM; SEXUAL BEHAVIOR; STEROIDOGENESIS; STRESS; TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY;

AFFECT; AGING; BEHAVIOR; BRAIN INJURIES; COGNITION; DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE; DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULFATE; FEMALE; HUMANS; MALE; MENOPAUSE; NEUROTRANSMITTER AGENTS; POSTPARTUM PERIOD; PREGNANCY; PREGNANOLONE; PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME; PROGESTERONE; REPRODUCTION;

EID: 84880284490     PISSN: 13697137     EISSN: 14730804     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2013.809647     Document Type: Article

References (105)

1. Wang MD, , Wahlströ m G, Bä ckströ m T. The regional brain distribution of the neurosteroids pregnenolone and pregnenolone sulfate following intravenous infusion. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1997 ; 62 : 299-306 (Pubitemid 27504760)
2. Baulieu E E. N eurosteroids: A new function in the brain. Biol Cell 1991 ; 71 : 3-10
3. Baulieu EE. Neurosteroids: Of the nervous system, by the nervous system, for the nervous system. Recent Prog Horm Res 1997 ; 52 : 1-32 (Pubitemid 127470204)
4. Pluchino N, Luisi M, Lenzi E, et a l. P rogesterone and progestins: Effects on brain, allopregnanolone and ®-endorphin. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2006 ; 102 : 205-13 (Pubitemid 44750636)
5. Bernardi F, Lanzone A, Cento R M, et a l. A llopregnanolone and dehydroepiandrosterone response to corticotropin-releasing factor in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Eur J Endocrinol 2000 ; 142 : 466-71 (Pubitemid 30341177)
6. Bernardi F, Pluchino N, Begliuomini S, et al. Disadaptive disorders in women: Allopregnanolone, asensitive steroid. Gynecol Endocrinol 2004 ; 19 : 344-53 (Pubitemid 40128852)
7. Barbaccia ML, Roscetti G, Trabucchi M, et al. Time-dependent changes in rat brain neuroactive steroid concentrations and GABAA receptor function after acute stress. Neuroendocrinology 1996 ; 63 : 166-72
8. B arbaccia ML, Serra M, Purdy RH, Biggio G. Stress and neuroactive steroids. Int Rev Neurobiol 2001 ; 46 : 243-72 (Pubitemid 33798724)
9. Guidotti A, Dong E, Matsumoto K, Pinna G, Rasmusson A M, Costa E. The socially-isolated mouse: A model to study the putative role of allopregnanolone and 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone in psychiatric disorders. Brain Res Brain Res Rev 2001 ; 37 : 110-15 (Pubitemid 34020725)
10. Pinna G, Dong E, Matsumoto K, Costa E, Guidotti A. In socially isolated mice, the reversal of brain allopregnanolone down-regulation mediates the anti-Aggressive action of fl uoxetine. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2003 ; 100 : 2035-40 (Pubitemid 36254569)
11. Serra M, Pisu M G, Littera M, et al. Social isolation-induced decreases in both the abundance of neuroactive steroids and GABA(A) receptor function in rat brain. J Neurochem 2000 ; 75 : 732-40 (Pubitemid 30485455)
12. Semeniuk L, LeMelledo JM, Shangri G S. N euroactive steroid levels in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2001 ; 13 : 396-8
13. Heydari B, Le Melledo J M. L ow pregnanolone sulphate plasma concentrations in patients with generalized social phobia. Psychol Med 2002 ; 32 : 929-33 (Pubitemid 34823345)
14. Brambilla F, Biggio G, Pisu M G, et a l. N eurosteroid secretion in panic disorder. Psychiatry Res 2003 ; 118 : 107-16 (Pubitemid 36694424)
15. Khisti RT, Chopde CT, Jain SP. Antidepressant-like effect of the neurosteroid 3a-hydroxy-5a-pregnan-20-one in mice forced swim test. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2000 ; 67 : 137-43
16. Frye CA, Walf AA. Changes in progesterone metabolites in the hippocampus can modulate open fi eld and forced swim test behavior of proestrous rats. Horm Behav 2002 ; 41 : 306-15 (Pubitemid 34499458)
17. Uzunova V, Sheline Y, Davis J M, et a l. I ncrease in the cerebrospinal fl uid content of neurosteroids in patients with unipolar major depression who are receiving fl uoxetine or fl uvoxamine. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998 ; 95 : 3239-44 (Pubitemid 28135886)
18. Uzunov D P, Cooper T B, Costa E, Guidotti A. F luoxetine elicited changes in brain neurosteroid content measured by negative ion mass fragmentography. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1996 ; 93 : 12599-604 (Pubitemid 26367190)
19. Romeo E, Stroehle A, Spalletta G, et al. Effects of antidepressant treatment on neuroactive steroids in major depression. Am J Psychiatry 1998 ; 155 : 910-13 (Pubitemid 28307602)
20. Griffi n LD, Mellon SH. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors directly alter activity of neurosteroidogenic enzymes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1999 ; 96 : 13512-17
21. Genazzani AR, Palumbo MA, de Micheroux AA, et al. Evidence for a role for the neurosteroid allopregnanolone in the modulation of reproductive function in female rats. Eur J Endocrinol 1995 ; 133 : 375-80
22. Corpechot C, Collins BE, Carey MP, Tsouros A, Robel P, Fry JP. Brain neurosteroids during the mouse oestrous cycle. Brain Res 1997 ; 766 : 276-80 (Pubitemid 27431463)
23. Genazzani AR, Petraglia F, Bernardi F, et al. Circulating levels of allopregnanolone in humans: Gender, age, and endocrine infl uences. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998 ; 83 : 2099-103 (Pubitemid 28496343)
24. Monteleone P, Luisi S, Tonetti A, et al. A llopregnanolone concentrations and premenstrual syndrome. Eur J Endocrinol 2000 ; 142 : 269-73 (Pubitemid 30176936)
25. Rapkin A J, Morgan M, Goldman L, Brann DW, Simone D, Mahesh VB. Progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone in women with premenstrual syndrome. Obstet Gynecol 1997 ; 90 : 709-14 (Pubitemid 27449718)
26. Bicikova M, Dibbelt L, Hill M, Hampl R, Starka L. A llopregnanolone in women with premenstrual syndrome. Horm Metab Res 1998 ; 30 : 227-30
27. Bicikova M, Putz Z, Hill M, et a l. S erum levels of neurosteroid allopregnanolone in patients with premenstrual syndrome and patients after thyroidectomy. Endocr Regul 1998 ; 32 : 87-92 (Pubitemid 128528122)
28. Lombardi I, Luisi S, Quirici B, et al. Adrenal response to adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation in patients with premenstrual syndrome. Gynecol Endocrinol 2004 ; 18 : 79-87 (Pubitemid 38264895)
29. Andr é en L, Nyberg S, Turkmen S, van Wingen G, Ferná ndez G, Bä ckstr ö m T. Sex steroid induced negative mood may be explained by the paradoxical effect mediated by GABAA modulators. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009 ; 34 : 1121-32
30. Wang M, Seippel L, Purdy RH, Bä ckströ m T. Relationship between symptom severity and steroid variation in women with premenstrual syndrome: Study on serum pregnenolone, pregnenolone sulfate, 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and 3 alphahydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1996 ; 81 : 1076-82
31. Genazzani A D, Luisi M, Malavasi B, et a l. P ulsatile secretory characteristics of allopregnanolone, aneuroactive steroid, during the menstrual cycle and in amenorrheic subjects. Eur J Endocrinol 2002 ; 146 : 347-56 (Pubitemid 34257645)
32. Monteleone P, Luisi M, Colurcio B, et al. Plasma levels of neuroactive steroids are increased in untreated women with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Psychosom Med 2001 ; 63 : 62-8 (Pubitemid 32125358)
33. Monteleone P, Luisi M, De Filippis G, et al. Circulating levels of neuroactive steroids in patients with binge eating disorder: A comparison with non-obese healthy controls and non-binge eating obese subjects. Int J Eat Disord 2003 ; 34 : 432-40 (Pubitemid 37339750)
34. Luisi S, Petraglia F, Benedetto C, et al. Serum allopregnanolone levels in pregnant women: Changes during pregnancy, at delivery, and in hypertensive patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 ; 85 : 2429-33 (Pubitemid 32269196)
35. Gilbert Evans SE, Ross LE, Sellers EM, Purdy RH, Romach MK. 3alpha-reduced neuroactive steroids and their precursors during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Gynecol Endocrinol 2005 ; 21 : 268-79 (Pubitemid 43041748)
36. Maayan R, Fisch B, Galdor M, et al. Infl uence of 17® estradiol on the synthesis of reduced neurosteroids in the brain (in vivo) and in glioma cells (in vitro): Possible relevance to mental disorders in women. Brain Res 2004 ; 1020 : 167-72 (Pubitemid 39092983)
37. Mostallino MC, Sanna E, Concas A, Biggio G, Follesa P. Plasticity and function of extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors during pregnancy and after delivery. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009 ; 34 : 74-83
38. Hirst JJ, Palliser HK, Yates DM, Yawno T, Walker DW. Neurosteroids in the fetus and neonate: Potential protective role in compromised pregnancies. Neurochem Int 2008 ; 52 : 602-10
39. Concas A, Mostallino MC, Porcu P, et al. Role of brain allopregnanolone in the plasticity of g-Aminobutyric acid type A receptor in rat brain during pregnancy and after delivery. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998 ; 95 : 13284-89 (Pubitemid 28509563)
40. Follesa P, Floris S, Tuligi G, Mostallino MC, Concas A, Biggio G. Molecular and functional adaptation of the GABAA receptor complex during pregnancy and after delivery in the rat brain. Eur J Neurosci 1998 ; 10 : 2905-12 (Pubitemid 29073963)
41. Sanna E, Mostallino MC, Murru L, et al. Changes in expression and function of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors in the rat hippocampus during pregnancy and after delivery. J Neurosci 2009 ; 29 : 1755-65
42. Zuluaga M J, Agrati D, Pereira M, Uriarte N, Fernandez-Guasti A, Ferreira A. Experimental anxiety in the black and white model in cycling, pregnant and lactating rats. Physiol Behav 2005 ; 84 : 279-86 (Pubitemid 40222722)
43. de Brito Faturi C, Teixeira-Silva F, Leite JR. The anxiolytic effect of pregnancy in rats is reversed by fi nasteride. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2006 ; 85 : 569-74 (Pubitemid 46097068)
44. S kouteris H, Wertheim EH, Rallis S, Milgrom J, Paxton SJ. Depression and anxiety through pregnancy and the early postpartum: An examination of prospective relationships. J Affect Disord 2009 ; 113 : 303-8
45. Smith SS, Gong QH, Hsu FC, Markowitz RS, ffrench-M ullen JM, Li X. GABAA receptor a4 subunit suppression prevents withdrawal properties of an endogenous steroid. Nature 1998 ; 392 : 926-30 (Pubitemid 28232064)
46. Smith SS, Gong QH, Li X, Moran MH, Bitran D, Frye C A, Hsu FC. Withdrawal from 3a-OH-5a-pregnan-20-one using a pseudopregnancy model alters the kinetics of hippocampal GABAA-gated current and increases the GABAA receptor a4subunit in association with increased anxiety. J Neurosci 1998 ; 18 : 5275-84 (Pubitemid 28311944)
47. Smith SS, Ruderman Y, Frye C, Homanics G, Yuan M. S teroid withdrawal in the mouse results in anxiogenic effects of 3a, 5b-THP: A possible model of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Psychopharmacology 2006 ; 186 : 323-33 (Pubitemid 43800834)
48. Pawluski JL, Vanderbyl BL, Ragan K, Galea LA. First reproductive experience persistently affects spatial reference and working memory in the mother and these effects are not due to pregnancy or'mothering'alone. Behav Brain Res 2006 ; 175 : 157-65 (Pubitemid 44691933)
49. Walf A A, Frye C A. E stradiol decreases anxiety behavior and enhances inhibitory avoidance and gestational stress produces opposite effects. Stress 2007 ; 10 : 251-60 (Pubitemid 47037198)
50. Kinsley C H, Lambert K G. R eproduction-induced neuroplasticity: Natural behavioural and neuronal alterations associated with the production and care of offspring. J Neuroendocrinol 2008 ; 4 : 515-25 (Pubitemid 351437037)
51. Paris JJ, Frye CA. Estrous cycle, pregnancy, and parity enhance performance of rats in object recognition or object placement tasks. Reproduction 2008 ; 136 : 105-15 (Pubitemid 351984724)
52. Leuner B, Mirescu C, Noiman L, Gould E. Maternal experience inhibits the production of immature neurons in the hippocampus during the postpartum period through elevations in adrenal steroids. Hippocampus 2007 ; 17 : 434-42 (Pubitemid 46897976)
53. Pawluski J L, Galea L A. R eproductive experience alters hippocampal neurogenesis during the postpartum period in the dam. Neuroscience 2007 ; 149 : 53-67 (Pubitemid 47488656)
54. Frye C A. N eurosteroid s' Effects and mechanisms for social, cognitive, emotional, and physical functions. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009 ; 34 : 143-61
55. Bloch M, Daly RC, Rubinow DR. Endocrine factors in the etiology of postpartum depression. Compr Psychiatry 2003 ; 44 : 234-46 (Pubitemid 36597224)
56. Smith R, Thomson M. N euroendocrinology of the hypot halamopituitary- Adrenal axis in pregnancy and the puerperium. Clin Endocrinol Metab 1991 ; 5 : 167-86
57. Tulchinsky D, Hobel CJ, Yeager EM. Plasma estrone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in human pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1972 ; 112 : 1095-100
58. Heidrich A, Schleyer M, Spingler H, et a l. P ostpartum blues: Relationship between not protein bound steroid hormones in plasma and postpartum mood changes. J Affective Disord 1994 ; 30 : 93-8 (Pubitemid 24063541)
59. Gordon J H, Perry K O. P re-And postsynaptic neurochemical alterations following estrogen-induced striatal dopamine hypoand hypersensitivity. Brain Res Bull 1983 ; 10 : 425-8 (Pubitemid 13098785)
60. Wieck A, Kumar R, Hirst AD, Marks MN, Campbell IC, Checkley SA. Increased sensitivity of dopamine receptors and recurrence of affective psychosis after childbirth. Br Med J 1991 ; 303 : 613-16
61. Bosse R, Rivest R, Dipaolo T. Ovariectomy and estradiol treatment affect the dopamine transporter and its gene expression in the rat brain. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 1997 ; 46 : 343-6 (Pubitemid 27214384)
62. Gregoire AJ, Kumar R, Everitt B, Henderson AF, Studd JW. Transdermal oestrogen for treatment of severe postnatal depression. Lancet 1996 ; 347 : 930-3 (Pubitemid 26102548)
63. Paul S M, Purdy R H. N euroactive steroids. F ASEB J 1 992 ; 6 : 2311-22
64. Costa A-MN, Spence K T, Smith S S, ff Rench-Mullen J MH. Withdrawal from the endogenous steroid progesterone results in GABAA currents insensitive to benzodiazepine modulation in rat CA1 hippocampus. J Neurophysiol 1995 ; 4 : 464-9
65. Nicosia A, Giardina L, Di Leo F, et al. Long-lasting behavioral changes induced by pre-or neonatal exposure to diazepam in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2003 ; 469 : 103-9 (Pubitemid 36629556)
66. Nappi R E, Petraglia F, Luisi S, Polatti F, Farina C, Genazzani AR. Serum allopregnanolone in women with postpartum "blues". Obstet Gynecol 2001 ; 97 : 77-80 (Pubitemid 32057161)
67. Majewska M D, Ford-Rice R, Falkay G. P regnancy-induced alterations of GABAA receptor sensitivity in maternal brain: An antecedent of post-partum'blues'? Brain Res 1989 ; 482 : 397-401 (Pubitemid 19066557)
68. Bitran D, Shiekh M, MacLeod M. A nxiolytic effect of progesterone is mediated by the neurosteroids anolone at brain GABAa receptors. J Neuroendocrinol 1995 ; 7 : 171-7
69. Parker CR, Favor JK, Carden LG, Brown CH. Effects of intrapartum stress on fetal adrenal function. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993 ; 169 : 1407-11 (Pubitemid 24009169)
70. Genazzani AR, Gambacciani M, Simoncini T, Schneider HPG. HRT in climacteric and aging brain. Climacteric 2003 ; 6 : 188-203
71. Naylor J C, Kilts J D, Hulette C M, et a l. A llopregnanolone levels are reduced in temporal cortex in patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to cognitively intact control subjects. Biochim Biophys Acta 2010 ; 1801 : 951-9
72. Wang J M, Singh C, Liu L, et a l. A llopregnanolone reverses neurogenic and cognitive defi cits in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2010 ; 107 : 6498-503
73. Schumacher M, Hussain R, Gago N, Oudinet J P, Mattern C, Ghoumari AM. Progesterone synthesis in the nervous system: Implications for myelination and myelin repair. Front Neurosci 2012; 6 : 10
74. Brinton RD. Neurosteroids as regenerative agents in the brain: Therapeutic implications. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2013 ; 9 : 241-50
75. Genazzani AR, Bernardi F, Pluchino N, et al. Endocrinology of menopausal transition and its brain implications. CNS Spectr 2005 ; 10 : 449-57 (Pubitemid 40934396)
76. McEwen B S, Alves S E, Bulloch K, Weiland N G. Ovarian steroids and the brain: Implications for cognition and aging. Neurology 1997 ; 48 : 8-15
77. Pluchino N, Bucci F, Cela V, Cubeddu A, Genazzani AR. Menopause and mental well-being: Timing of symptoms and timing of hormone treatment. Womens Health (Lond Engl) 2011 ; 7 : 71-80
78. North American Menopause Society. Menopause Guidebook, 6th edn. Cleveland, OH: North American Menopause Society, 2006
79. Bernardi F, Pieri M, Stomati M, et a l. Effect of different hormonal replacement therapies on circulating allopregnanolone and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in postmenopausal women. Gynecol Endocrinol 2003 ; 17 : 65-77 (Pubitemid 36349884)
80. Morrison J H, Brinton R D, Schmidt P J, Gore A C. E strogen, menopause, and the aging brain: How basic neuroscience can inform hormone therapy in women. J Neurosci 2006 ; 26 : 10332-48 (Pubitemid 44564581)
81. Siegfried T. N euroscience: It's all in the timing. Nature 2007 ; 445 : 359-61 (Pubitemid 46160889)
82. Pluchino N, Cubeddu A, Giannini A, et al. Progestogens and brain: An update. Maturitas 2009 ; 62 : 349-55
83. Stanczyk FZ. All progestins are not created equal. Steroids 2003 ; 68 : 879-90 (Pubitemid 37532412)
84. Nilsen J, Brinton R D. D ivergent impact of progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera) on nuclear mitogen-Activated protein kinase signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2003 ; 100 : 10506-11 (Pubitemid 37071908)
85. Morali G, Lemus AE, Munguia R, Garcia GA, Grillasca I, Perez-Palacios G. Hormone-like behavioral effects of levonorgestrel and its metabolites in the male rat. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2002 ; 73 : 951-61 (Pubitemid 35246244)
86. Garcia-Becerra R, Borja-Cacho E, Cooney A J, et a l. T he intrinsic transcriptional estrogenic activity of a non-phenolic deriva tive of levonorgestrel is mediated via the estrogen receptor-Alpha. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2002 ; 82 : 333-41 (Pubitemid 36187400)
87. Winneker RC, Bitran D, Zhang Z. The preclinical biology of a new potent and selective progestin: Trimegestone. Steroids 2003 ; 68 : 915-20 (Pubitemid 37532415)
88. Pluchino N, Genazzani A D, Bernardi F, et a l. T ibolone, transdermal estradiol or oral estrogen-progestin therapies: Effects on circulating allopregnanolone, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels. Gynecol Endocrinol 2005 ; 20 : 144-9 (Pubitemid 40694919)
89. Sitruk-Ware R. New progestagens for contraceptive use. Hum Reprod Update 2006 ; 12 : 169-78 (Pubitemid 43231449)
90. Genazzani A R, Petraglia F, Bergamaschi M, Genazzani A D, Facchinetti F, Volpe A. Progesterone and progestins modulate beta-endorphin concentrations in the hypothalamus and in the pituitary of castrated female rats. Gynecol Endocrinol 1987 ; 1 : 61-9
91. Genazzani AR, Bernardi F, Pluchino N, et al. Effect of tibolone administration on central and peripheral levels of allopregnanolone and beta-endorphin in female rats. Menopause 2006 ; 13 : 57-64
92. Bernardi F, Pluchino N, Pieri M, et a l. P rogesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate effects on central and peripheral allopregnanolone and beta-endorphin levels. Neuroendocrinology 2006 ; 83 : 348-59 (Pubitemid 44729792)
93. Genazzani AR, Pluchino N, Begliuomini S, et al. Drospirenone increases central and peripheral beta-endorphin in ovariectomized female rats. Menopause 2007 ; 14 : 63-73 (Pubitemid 46072007)
94. Stein D G. P rogesterone in the treatment of acute traumatic brain injury: A clinical perspective and update. Neuroscience 2011 ; 191 : 101-6
95. Stein DG. A clinical/translational perspective: Can a developmental hormone play a role in the treatment of traumatic brain injury? Horm Behav 2013 ; 63 : 291-300
96. Wright DW, Kellermann AL, Hertzberg VS, et al. ProTECT: A randomized clinical trial of progesterone for acute traumatic brain injury. Ann Emerg Med 2007 ; 49 : 391-402
97. Harper AJ, Buster JE, Casson PR. Changes in adrenocortical function with aging and therapeutic implications. Semin Reprod Endocrinol 1999 ; 17 : 327-38 (Pubitemid 30256591)
98. Davis S R, Panjari M, Stanczyk F Z. DHEA replacement for postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011 ; 96 : 1642-3
99. Labrie F, Luu-The V, Bé langer A, et a l. I s dehydroepiandrosterone a hormone? J Endocrinol 2005 ; 187 : 169-96 (Pubitemid 41685178)
100. Davis SR, Davison SL, Donath S, Bell RJ. Circulating androgen levels and self-reported sexual function in women. JAMA 2005 ; 294 : 91-6 (Pubitemid 41002843)
101. Davis SR, Shah SM, McKenzie DP, Kulkarni J, Davison SL, Bell RJ. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels are associated with more favorable cognitive function in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008 ; 93 : 801-8 (Pubitemid 351398556)
102. Genazzani AR, Pluchino N, Begliuomini S, et al. Long-Term low-dose oral administration of dehydroepiandrosterone modulates response to adrenocorticotropic hormone in early and late postmenopausal women. Gynecol Endocrinol 2006 ; 22 : 627-35 (Pubitemid 44915729)
103. Maninger N, Wolkowitz O M, Reus V I, Epel E S, Mellon S H. Neurobiological and neuropsychiatric effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS). Front Neuroendocrinol 2009 ; 30 : 65-91
104. Pluchino N, Ninni F, Stomati M, et al. One year therapy with 10 mg/die DHEA alone or in combination with HRT in postmenopausal women: Effects on hormonal milieu. Maturitas 2008 ; 59 : 296-303
105. Genazzani A R, Pluchino N. D HEA therapy in postmenopausal women: The need to move forward beyond the lack of evidence. Climacteric 2010 ; 13 : 314-16.