“…First, as reviewed above, allopregnanolone negatively modulates the HPA axis in animal models, and although null findings have been reported (Su et al, 1997;Bloch et al, 2000;Lombardi et al, 2004) where diagnosis-related differences exist, they suggest blunted HPA axis function in PMDD. For example, a number of studies have reported lower circulating ACTH or cortisol concentrations in PMDD women (Rabin et al, 1990;Redei & Freeman, 1993;Girdler et al, 1998), increased ACTH response to ovine CRF (consistent with lower endogenous CRF; Rabin et al, 1990), a delayed (Steiner et al, 1999) or blunted HPA axis response to serotonergic agents (Bancroft et al, 1991;Su et al, 1997), and the absence of the normal plasma cortisol and ACTH response to exercise stress in the luteal phase that is seen in non-PMDD women (Roca et al, 2003).…”