Psychopharmacology

, Volume 231, Issue 17, pp 3437–3444 | Cite as

Allopregnanolone modulation of HPA axis function in the adult rat

  • Giovanni Biggio
  • Maria Giuseppina Pisu
  • Francesca Biggio
  • Mariangela Serra
Review
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Rationale

GABAergic neuronal circuits regulate neuroendocrine stress response, and the most potent positive endogenous modulator of GABAA receptor function is allopregnanolone. This neurosteroid acts in a nongenomic manner to selectively increase the inhibitory signal meditated by GABAA receptors; in addition, it also induces long-lasting changes in the expression of specific GABAA receptor subunits in various brain regions, with consequent changes in receptor function.

Objective

The objective of this review is to summarize our findings on emotional state and stress responsiveness in three animal models in which basal brain concentrations of allopregnanolone differ. It is postulated that individual differences in allopregnanolone levels can influence general resilience.

Results

The results showed that there is an apparent correlation between endogenous levels of brain allopregnanolone and basal and stress-stimulated HPA axis activity.

Conclusion

The relationship between endogenous brain levels of allopregnanolone and HPA axis activity and function sustains the therapeutic potential of this neurosteroid for the treatment of stress-associated disorders.

Keywords

Allopregnanolone Social isolation Maternal separation Socially isolated parents offspring HPA axis 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (Project PRIN 20107MSMA4), the Sardinian Government (RAS, Grants CRP-60921 and F71J11000900002), and the Fondazione Banco di Sardegna (2013)

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Giovanni Biggio
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
  • Maria Giuseppina Pisu
    • 3
  • Francesca Biggio
    • 1
  • Mariangela Serra
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of Life and Environment SciencesUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
  2. 2.Center of Excellence for Neurobiology of DependenceUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
  3. 3.C.N.R., Neuroscience InstituteCagliariItaly
  4. 4.Department of Life and Environment Sciences, Section of NeuroscienceUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly

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