Behavioral effects of cyclic changes in serotonin during the human menstrual cycle

Warren, D. E.; Tedford, W. H.; Flynn, W. E.

doi:10.1016/0306-9877(79)90017-3

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Millodot and Lamont's suggestion regarding the mechanism underlying menstrual changes in pain sensitivity is that generalized edema increases the interocular pressure during the premenstrual and menstrual phases, thus decreasing corneal sensitivity (Millodot & Lament, 1974). In a much more broadly speculative manner, Warren, Tedford, and Flynn (1979) suggest a higher level mechanism: they propose that peripheral levels of estrogen and progesteron produce (via monoamineoxidase pathways) changes in brain amine levels that produce changes in CNS transmitter substances, which produce changes in perceptual and emotional behaviors, including the changes in shock aversion thresholds found in their study. In contrast, an unusually careful and well-controlled series of experiments led Procacci and his coworkers to conclude that the association between the menstrual cycle and rhythmic changes in pain thresholds is not the result of a direct causal relation, since circatrigintan (near 30-day) cycles in pain sensitivity persist during pregnancy and are also found in postmenopausal women and in men (Procacci et al, 1972).…”

Section: Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

Menstrual rhythm in sensory processes: A review of fluctuations in vision, olfaction, audition, taste, and touch.

Parlee¹

1983

Psychological Bulletin

106

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Research showing menstrual changes in basic processes in five sensory modalities is reviewed and discussed. Although substantial variations of stimulus conditions and procedures make generalizations difficult, both visual and olfactory thresholds in women appear to be lower around the time of ovulation. Sensitivity to painful stimuli has generally been found to be lower in the premenstrual phase of the cycle. Auditory performance, less extensively investigated, has shown two peaks throughout the cycle, one around ovulation, one at menstrual onset. No generalizations emerge from scattered research on menstrual changes in taste, temperature sensitivity, or two-touch thresholds. Four methodological points are discussed as important in future research directed toward identifying mechanisms underlying sensory changes associated with the menstrual cycle.

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Section: Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

Menstrual rhythm in sensory processes: A review of fluctuations in vision, olfaction, audition, taste, and touch.

Parlee¹

1983

Psychological Bulletin

106

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“…The abrupt decline in E and P at the end of the menstrual cycle, after parturition and at the onset of natural or surgical menopause, has been correlated with an increase in negative affect (Mortola et al, 1989;Steiner, 1990). Several authors have suggested that depression associated with changes in ovarian steroids is related to serotonin (5-HT) neural function (Warren et al, 1979;Glick and Bennett, 1981). However, the mechanism by which E and P act on serotonin neurons has not been defined.…”

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confidence: 99%

Ovarian Steroid Regulation of Tryptophan Hydroxylase mRNA Expression in Rhesus Macaques

et al. 1996

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Progesterone (P) stimulates prolactin secretion through an unknown neural mechanism in estrogen (E)-primed female monkeys. Serotonin is a stimulatory neurotransmitter in prolactin regulation, and this laboratory has shown previously that E induces progestin receptors (PR) in serotonin neurons. Therefore, we questioned whether E and/or EϩP increased serotonin neural function. The expression of mRNA for tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) was examined in ovariectomized (spayed) control, E-treated (28 d), and EϩP-treated monkeys (14 d E and 14 d EϩP) using in situ hybridization and a 249 bp TPH cRNA probe generated with RT-PCR (n ϭ 5 animals/group). Densitometric analysis of film autoradiographs revealed a ninefold increase in TPH mRNA in E-treated macaques compared to spayed animals ( p Ͻ 0.05). With supplemental P treatment, TPH mRNA signal was increased fivefold over spayed animals ( p Ͻ 0.05), but was not significantly different compared to E-treated animals. These results were verified by grain counts from photographic emulsion-coated slides. There were significantly higher single-cell levels of TPH mRNA in serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe in E-and EϩP-treated groups ( p Ͻ 0.05). These data indicate that E induces TPH gene expression in nonhuman primates and that the addition of P has little additive effect on TPH gene expression. Thus, the action of P on prolactin secretion is probably not mediated at the level of TPH gene transcription. However, because P increases raphe serotonin content in E-primed rodents, the possibility remains that P may have other actions on post-translational processing or enzyme activity.

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Effect of D-Fenfluramine on Appetite in Lean and Obese Human Subjects and on Changes Associated with PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome)

Blundell

Hill

1990

Serotonin

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Behavioral effects of cyclic changes in serotonin during the human menstrual cycle

Cited by 7 publications

References 17 publications

Menstrual rhythm in sensory processes: A review of fluctuations in vision, olfaction, audition, taste, and touch.

Menstrual rhythm in sensory processes: A review of fluctuations in vision, olfaction, audition, taste, and touch.

Ovarian Steroid Regulation of Tryptophan Hydroxylase mRNA Expression in Rhesus Macaques

Effect of D-Fenfluramine on Appetite in Lean and Obese Human Subjects and on Changes Associated with PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome)

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