john herr psychologist los gatos saratoga california

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TITLE: Anti-anxiety effects of progesterone and some of its reduced metabolites: an evaluation using the burying behavior test.
AUTHOR: Picazo O; Fernandez-Guasti A
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Departamento de Farmacologia y Toxicologia, CINVESTAV, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
SOURCE: Brain Res 1995 May 22;680(1-2):135-41
NLM CIT. ID: 95393043
ABSTRACT: In this study, pregnenolone sulfate, progesterone and some of its main reduced metabolites were tested for anxiolytic properties in rats using the burying behavior paradigm. All steroids were subcutaneously injected. Progesterone (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/rat) and its 3 alpha-5 alpha-reduced metabolite (0.125, 0.250, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/rat) produced a clear dose-dependent anxiolytic response, without affecting the spontaneous ambulatory behavior. 5 alpha-Pregnanedione decreased burying behavior only at the highest dose (4.0 mg/rat). Pregnenolone sulfate (1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/rat), 5 beta-pregnanedione and 3 beta- or 5 beta-pregnenolones were devoid of effects. The 3 beta-5 beta-reduced metabolite of progesterone (2.0 and 4.0 mg/rat) decreased motor activity, without altering the burying behavior. These results demonstrate that the 3 alpha-5 alpha metabolite of progesterone shows the highest anxiolytic potency in the burying behavior test, when compared with all steroids evaluated. The data are discussed in terms of the close structure-activity relationship requirements of steroids to stimulate the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor-chloride ionophore complex.
MAIN MESH SUBJECTS: Anti-Anxiety Agents/*PHARMACOLOGY
Behavior, Animal/*DRUG EFFECTS
Progesterone/*METABOLISM/*PHARMACOLOGY
ADDITIONAL MESH SUBJECTS: Animal
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Motor Activity/DRUG EFFECTS
Oxidation-Reduction
Pregnenolone/PHARMACOLOGY
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Reaction Time/DRUG EFFECTS
Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PUBLICATION TYPES: JOURNAL ARTICLE
LANGUAGE: Eng
REGISTRY NUMBERS: 0 (Anti-Anxiety Agents)
1247-64-9 (pregnenolone sulfate)
145-13-1 (Pregnenolone)
57-83-0 (Progesterone)

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On Sabbatical!

When my office lease expired at the end of 2004, I decided to turn it into a "sabbatical" from my private practice. Many years ago, in my grandfather's 89th year of life, he told me, "John, it is important to smell the roses while you can still smell them." His life gave living a very good reputation. It is also true that the pursuit of that philosophy required my grandfather to to re-open his assay office/ore market in Wickenburg, Arizona as a 75-year-old because he had run a little short of retirement money. Thus, if blessed with his luck and health, I'll be back.. --jjh

Copyright 1998-2007  John J. Herr, Ph.D.                                   Please send comments to jjherr@clinicalpsychologist.com