naloxone and Premenstrual-Syndrome

To investigate the theory of brain opioid activity disregulation in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and to discover the changes of central beta-endorphin activity during the menstrual cycle in PMS patients.. Prospective study.. University-based PMS clinic.. All the patients and controls were between 20 and 45 years of age, with regular menses for at least six previous cycles. All the patients demonstrated at least 30% score increase in designated symptoms on the Visual Linear Analog Scale during the luteal phase compared with the follicular phase. In contrast, the score changes in the controls were < 30%.. All subjects underwent LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) stimulation test on days 2 to 3 of the cycle. Five naloxone infusions were administered on days 7 to 8 and 10 to 11, 1 day, 3 to 4 days, and 12 to 13 days after the LH surge as detected by the ovulation prediction kit.. Luteinizing Hormone levels were recorded for 1 hour, followed by naloxone infusion at 2 mg/h for 4 hours. Blood samples were collected for LH tests every 15 minutes for 1 hour before, during, and for 1 hour after the infusion.. All subjects had similar LH response to LH-RH. The integrated area of LH response to naloxone as expressed by percentage of the baseline on each of the 5 days did not show significant differences between the patients and the controls.. The central beta-endorphin changes, if any, in PMS patients could not be demonstrated in our study.

Topics: Adult; beta-Endorphin; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Luteal Phase; Luteinizing Hormone; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Premenstrual Syndrome; Prospective Studies

Topics: beta-Endorphin; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Endorphins; Female; Humans; Naloxone; Premenstrual Syndrome

In order to evaluate the relationships between endogenous opioid activity and premenstrual complaints, we subjected three groups of patients in the mid (days 8-12 prior to menses) and late (days 1-5 prior to menses) luteal phases of the cycle to a naloxone test and some of the patients to a luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) test. The premenstrual syndrome (PMS) group was composed of nine patients complaining of dizziness, irritability and depression close to menses for at least three years. The menstrually related migraine (MM) group was composed of 15 patients complaining of premenstrually related migraine. The common migraine (CM) group was made up of 16 women suffering from common migraine for years whose attacks occurred independently of menstrual cycle events. A group of seven fertile women served as controls. Every two days the patients filled out the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire for evaluation of their complaints. After the evaluation of spontaneous LH pulsatility for one hour, 4 mg of naloxone was injected as a bolus, and samples were collected every 15 minutes for 2 hours. Both estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured in basal samples from each naloxone test. LH responsiveness to LHRH was similar in the mid and late luteal phases and did not change between groups. In the mid luteal phase the LH response to naloxone in PMS and MM patients was similar to that in normal subjects, while CM patients had impaired LH secretion. In the premenstrual phase only the controls maintained an LH responsiveness similar to that observed in the mid luteal phase, while both PMS and MM lost the naloxone-induced LH release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Adult; Endorphins; Estradiol; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Luteal Phase; Luteinizing Hormone; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders; Naloxone; Premenstrual Syndrome; Progesterone

To resolve existing controversies about the impact of the menstrual cycle on oral glucose tolerance, we examined the glucose, insulin, and glucagon responses to an oral glucose challenge at different phases of the menstrual cycle in five normal women (NW) and six women with premenstrual syndrome and alleged premenstrual hypoglycemic attacks (PMHA). Responses to oral glucose did not differ significantly between follicular and luteal phase studies in either group, nor were significant differences found between the responses of NW and women reporting PMHA. In parallel studies, the possible glucoregulatory effects of endogenous opiates were assessed. Concomitant infusion of naloxone altered neither the basal concentrations of glucose, insulin, and glucagon nor the responses of these measures to the glucose challenge. We conclude that NW and women with premenstrual syndrome and alleged PMHA have no menstrual cycle-related changes in glucose, insulin, or glucagon responses to an oral glucose load. The fact that four of six PMHA subjects had symptoms typical of hypoglycemia at glucose nadirs above 50 mg/dl suggests that an explanation other than hypoglycemia must be sought for such symptomatic episodes. Endogenous opiate peptides appear to exert no glucoregulatory effects at naloxone-sensitive receptor sites.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Blood Glucose; Female; Follicular Phase; Glucagon; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Hypoglycemia; Insulin; Luteal Phase; Menstrual Cycle; Naloxone; Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual and postpartum dysphoric changes are very prevalent. However, their etiology is still obscure. The authors hypothesize that changes in levels of endorphins may be involved in the pathophysiology of these changes. Studies of various endorphins indicate a possible relationship between levels of endorphins and depressive symptoms. In addition, some studies of naloxone and naltrexone suggest a relationship between a blockage in the action of endorphins and the development of a syndrome of dysphoric symptoms similar to the depressive features manifested premenstrually and postpartum by many women and frequently seen in some depressed outpatients. There is also some evidence that there may be a relationship between elevated levels of endorphins and other subtypes of depressive syndromes. Endorphins and estrogen levels have been shown to covary. During the postpartum and the premenstrual period, levels of both change rapidly and substantially. Therefore the link between changes in levels of endorphins and the dysphoric changes during the periods in focus is supported from three complementary directions: (1) the characteristic psychiatric symptomatology, (2) the reported hormonal changes, and (3) the possible involvement of endorphins in neuroendocrine regulation.

Topics: Animals; Behavior; Depressive Disorder; Dopamine; Endorphins; Estrogens; Female; Humans; Naloxone; Neurosecretory Systems; Pain; Pituitary Hormones; Pregnancy; Premenstrual Syndrome; Puerperal Disorders; Rats