Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Subjective effects and changes in steroid hormone concentrations in humans following acute consumption of alcohol

  • Original Investigation
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background:

GABAA receptors are an important site of action of endogenous neurosteroids and an important mediator of several behavioral effects of alcohol. This study examined the effects of alcohol on plasma steroid hormone concentrations on the hypothesis that the endocrine effects mediate some of the subjective effects of alcohol.

Methods:

Thirty-two healthy subjects (17 men) with no history of a substance use disorder participated in this human laboratory study. All subjects consumed three standard drinks of grain alcohol. Subjective measures and blood samples for steroid concentrations were collected at baseline and 40 min after alcohol consumption.

Results:

Alcohol increased self-reported stimulation, alcohol liking, and desire for more alcohol. Alcohol also increased pregnenolone (PREG) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations, while it decreased progesterone (PROG) and allopregnanolone (ALLO) concentrations, as well as ALLO/PREG and PROG/PREG ratios. In men, the change in PREG concentration was significantly correlated with alcohol liking, while the alcohol-induced change in ALLO concentration correlated significantly with both alcohol liking and desire for more alcohol.

Discussion:

These findings provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that endogenous neurosteroids mediate some of the subjective effects of alcohol. Efforts to replicate these findings should aim to specify more clearly the nature and time course of the effects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alomary AA, Fitzgerald RL, Purdy RH (2001) Neurosteroid analysis. Int Rev Neurobiol 46:97–115

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson SH, Cronholm T, Sjovall J (1986) Effects of ethanol on the levels of unconjugated and conjugated androgens and estrogens in plasma of men. J Steroid Biochem 24:1193–1198

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barbaccia ML, Affricano D, Trabucchi M, Purdy RH, Colombo G, Agabio R, Gessa GL (1999) Ethanol markedly increases “GABAergic” neurosteroids in alcohol-preferring rats. Eur J Pharmacol 384:R1–R2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baulieu EE (1997) Neurosteroids: of the nervous system, by the nervous system, for the nervous system. Recent Prog Horm Res 52:1–32

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baulieu EE, Robel P (1990) Neurosteroids: a new brain function? J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 37:395–403

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baulieu EE, Robel P (1996) Dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate as neuroactive neurosteroids. J Endocrinol (suppl):S221–S239

  • Belelli D, Bolger MB, Gee KW (1989) Anticonvulsant profile of the progesterone metabolite 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one. Eur J Pharmacol 166:325–329

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blomqvist O, Hernandez-Avila CA, Van Kirk J, Rose JE, Kranzler HR (2002) Mecamylamine modifies the pharmacokinetics and reinforcing effects of alcohol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 26:326–331

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bitran D, Hilvers RJ, Kellogg CK (1991) Anxiolytic effects of 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha[beta]-pregnan-20-one: endogenous metabolites of progesterone that are active at the GABAA receptor. Brain Res 561:157–161

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davies M (2003) The role of GABAA receptors in mediating the effects of alcohol in the central nervous system. J Psychiatry Neurosci 28:263–274

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Devaud LL, FD Smith, DR Grayson, Morrow AL (1995) Chronic ethanol consumption differentially alters the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor subunit mRNAs in rat cerebral cortex: competitive, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Mol Pharmacol 48:861–868

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Wit H, Uhlenhuth EH, Pierri J, Johanson CE (1987) Individual differences in behavioral and subjective responses to alcohol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 11:52–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dong E, Matsumoto K, Uzunova V, Sugaya I, Takahata H, Nomura H, Watanabe H, Costa E, Guidotti A (2001) Brain 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone and allopregnanolone synthesis in a mouse model of protracted social isolation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98:2849–2854

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dorgan JF, Baer DJ, Albert PS, Judd JT, Brown ED, Corle DK, Campbell WS, Hartman TJ, Tejpar AA, Clevidence BA, Giffen CA, Chandler DW, Stanczyk FZ, Taylor PR (2001) Serum hormones and the alcohol-breast cancer association in postmenopausal women. J Natl Cancer Inst 93:710–715

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feldman HA, Johannes CB, McKinlay JB, Longcope C (1998) Low dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and heart disease in middle-aged men: cross-sectional results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Ann Epidemiol 8:217–228

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Field AE, Colditz GA, Willett WC, Longcope C, McKinlay JB (1994) The relation of smoking, age, relative weight, and dietary intake to serum adrenal steroids, sex hormones, and sex hormone-binding globulin in middle-aged men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 79:1310–1316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finn DA, Gee KW (1994) The estrus cycle, sensitivity to convulsants and the anticonvulsant effect of a neuroactive steroid. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 271:164–170

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finn DA, Sinnott RS, Ford MM, Long SL, Tanchuck MA, Phillips TJ (2004) Sex differences in the effect of ethanol injection and consumption on brain allopregnanolone levels in C57BL/6 mice. Neuroscience 123:813–819

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • First MB, Spitzer RL, Gibbon M, Williams JBW (1995) Structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis I disorders—patient edn (SCID-I/P, Version 2.0). Biometrics Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York

  • Garcia-Closas M, Herbstman J, Schiffman M, Glass A, Dorgan JF (2002) Relationship between serum hormone concentrations, reproductive history, alcohol consumption and genetic polymorphisms in pre-menopausal women. Int J Cancer 102:172–178

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grobin AC, Matthews DB, Devaud LL, Morrow AL (1998) The role of GABA(A) receptors in the acute and chronic effects of ethanol. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 139:2–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Genazzani AR, Petraglia F, Bernardi F, Casarosa E, Salvestroni C, Tonetti A, Nappi RE, Luisi S, Palumbo M, Purdy RH, Luisi M (1998) Circulating levels of allopregnanolone in humans: gender, age, and endocrine influences. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:2099–2103

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hill M, Popov P, Havlikova H, Kancheva L, Vrbikova J, Kancheva R, Pouzar V, Cerny I, Starka L (2005) Altered profiles of serum neuroactive steroids in premenopausal women treated for alcohol addiction. Steroids 70:515–524

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holdstock L, de Wit H (1998) Individual differences in the biphasic effects of ethanol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 22:1903–1911

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holdstock L, Penland SN, Morrow AL, de Wit H (2005) Moderate doses of ethanol fail to increase plasma levels of neurosteroid 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one in healthy men and women. Psychopharmacology (in this issue)

  • Holzbauer M, Birmingham MK, De Nicola AF, Oliver JT (1985) In vivo secretion of 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one, a potent anaesthetic steroid, by the adrenal gland of the rat. J Steroid Biochem 22:97–102

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khisti RT, VanDoren MJ, O’Buckley T, Morrow AL (2003) Neuroactive steroid 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one modulates ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex in rats. Brain Res 980:255–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kiechl S, Willeit J, Bonora E, Schwarz S, Xu Q (2000) No association between dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and development of atherosclerosis in a prospective population study (Bruneck Study). Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 20:1094–1100

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King A, Munisamy H, de Wit H. (2005) Lower cortisol response to alcohol in heavy social drinkers compared to light drinkers. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 29:(suppl) 103A

    Google Scholar 

  • Korneyev AY, Costa E, Guidotti A (1993) During anesthetic-induced activation of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, blood borne steroids fail to contribute to the anesthetic effect. Neuroendocrinology 57:559–565

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumamoto E, Murata Y (1996) Enhancement by lanthanide of general anesthetic-induced GABAA-receptor current in rat septal cholinergic neurons in culture. J Neurophysiol 75:2294–2299

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maayan R, Yagorowski Y, Grupper D, Weiss M, Shtaif B, Kaoud MA, Weizman A (2000) Basal plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level: a possible predictor for response to electroconvulsive therapy in depressed psychotic inpatients. Biol Psychiatry 48:693–701

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahabir S, Baer DJ, Johnson LL, Dorgan JF, Campbell W, Brown E, Hartman TJ, Clevidence B, Albanes D, Judd JT, Taylor PR (2004) The effects of moderate alcohol supplementation on estrone sulfate and DHEAS in postmenopausal women in a controlled feeding study. J Nutr 3:11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maisto SA, Connors GJ, Tucker JA, McCollam JB (1980) Validation of the sensation scale, a measure of subjective physiological responses to alcohol. Behav Res Ther 18:37–43

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majewska MD (1992) Neurosteroids: endogenous bimodal modulators of the GABA-A receptor mechanism of action and physiological significance. Prog Neurobiol 38:379–395

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majewska MD, Harrison NL, Schwartz RD, Barker JL, Paul SM (1986) Steroid hormone metabolites are barbiturate-like modulators of the GABA receptor. Science 232:1004–1008

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majewska MD, Demirgoren S, Spivak CE, London ED (1990) The neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is an allosteric antagonist of the GABAA receptor. Brain Res 526:143–146

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin CS, Earleywire M, Musty RE, Perrine MW, Swift RM (1993) Development and validation of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 17:140–146

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin CA, Mainous III AG, Curry T, Martin D (1999) Alcohol use in adolescent females: correlates with estradiol and testosterone. Am J Addict 8:9–14

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McNamee B, Grant J, Ratcliffe J, Ratcliffe W, Oliver J (1979) Lack of effect of alcohol on pituitary-gonadal hormones in women. Br J Addict Alcohol Other Drugs 74:316–317

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendelson JH, Mello NK, Teoh SK, Ellingboe J (1989) Alcohol effects on luteinizing hormone releasing hormone-stimulated anterior pituitary and gonadal hormones in women. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 250:902–909

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendelson WB, Martin JV, Perlis M, Wagner MR, Majewska MD, Paul SM (1987) Sleep induction by an adrenal steroid in the rat. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 93:226–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mienville JM, Vicini S (1989) Pregnenolone sulfate antagonizes GABA-A receptor-mediated currents via a reduction of channel opening frequency. Brain Res 489:190–194

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monteleone P, Luisi M, Colurcio B, Casarosa E, Monteleone P, Ioime R, Genazzani AR, Maj M (2001) Plasma levels of neuroactive steroids are increased in untreated women with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Psychosom Med 63:62–68

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow AL, Suzdak PD, Paul SM (1987) Steroid hormone metabolites potentiate GABA receptor-mediated chloride ion flux with nanomolar potency. Eur J Pharmacol 142:483–485

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow AL, Pace JR, Purdy RH, Paul SM (1990) Characterization of steroid interactions with gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-gated chloride ion channels: evidence for multiple steroid recognition sites. Mol Pharmacol 37:263–270

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow AL, Janis GC, VanDoren MJ, Matthews DB, Samson HH, Janak PH, Grant KA (1999) Neurosteroids mediate pharmacological effects of ethanol: a new mechanism of action? Alcohol Clin Exp Res 23:1933–1940

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow AL, VanDoren MJ, Fleming R, Penland S (2001) Ethanol and neurosteroid interactions in the brain. Int Rev Neurobiol 46:349–377

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow AL, Khisti RT, Tokunaga S, McDaniel JR, Matthews DB (2003) GABAergic neuroactive steroids modulate selective ethanol actions: mechanisms and significance. In: Smith SH (ed) Neurosteroid effects in the central nervous system: the role of the GABAA receptor. CRC, Miami, pp 219–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyberg S, Andersson A, Zingmark E, Wahlstrom G, Backstrom T, Sundstrom-Poromaa I (2005) The effect of a low dose of alcohol on allopregnanolone serum concentrations across the menstrual cycle in women with severe premenstrual syndrome and controls. Psychoneuroendocrinology 30:892–901

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Dell LE, Alomary AA, Vallee M, Koob GF, Fitzgerald RL, Purdy RH (2004) Ethanol-induced increases in neuroactive steroids in the rat brain and plasma are absent in adrenalectomized and gonadectomized rats. Eur J Pharmacol 484:241–247

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onland-Moret NC, Peeters PH, van der Schouw YT, Grobbee DE, van Gils CH (2005) Alcohol and endogenous sex steroid levels in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:1414–1419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Owens MJ, Ritchie JC, Nemeroff CB (1992) 5 alpha-pregnane-3 alpha, 21-diol-20-one (THDOC) attenuates mild stress-induced increases in plasma corticosterone via a non-glucocorticoid mechanism: comparison with alprazolam. Brain Res 573:353–355

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patchev VK, Shoaib, Holsboer MF, Almeida OF (1994) The neurosteroid tetrahydroprogesterone counteracts corticotropin-releasing hormone-induced anxiety and alters the release and gene expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone in the rat hypothalamus. Neuroscience 62:265–271

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patchev VK, Hassan AH, Holsboer DF, Almeida OF (1996) The neurosteroid tetrahydroprogesterone attenuates the endocrine response to stress and exerts glucocorticoid-like effects on vasopressin gene transcription in the rat hypothalamus. Neuropsychopharmacology 15:533–540

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paul SM, Purdy RH (1992) Neuroactive steroids. FASEB J 6:2311–2322

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson Murphy BE, Allison CM (2000) Determination of progesterone and some of its neuroactive ring A-reduced metabolites in human serum. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 74:137–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pierucci-Lagha A, Covault J, Feinn R, Nellissery M, Hernandez-Avila C, Oncken C, Morrow AL, Kranzler HR (2005) GABRA2 alleles moderate the subjective effects of alcohol, which are attenuated by finasteride. Neuropsychopharmacology 30:1193–1203

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Purdy RH, Morrow AL, Blinn JR, Paul SM (1990) Synthesis, metabolism, and pharmacological activity of 3α-hydroxy steroids which potentiate GABA-receptor-mediated chloride ion uptake in rat cerebral cortical synaptoneurosomes. J Med Chem 33:1572–1581

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ravaglia G, Forti P, Maioli F, Sacchetti L, Nativio V, Scali CR, Mariani E, Zanardi V, Stefanini A, Macini PL (2002) Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate serum levels and common age-related diseases: results from a cross-sectional Italian study of a general elderly population. Exp Gerontol 37:701–12

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reichman ME, Judd JT, Longcope C, Schatzkin A, Clevidence BA, Nair PP, Campbell WS, Taylor PR (1993) Effects of alcohol consumption on plasma and urinary hormone concentrations in premenopausal women. J Natl Cancer Inst 85:722–727

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romeo E, Brancati A, De Lorenzo A, Fucci P, Furnari C, Pompili E, Sasso GF, Spalletta G, Troisi A, Pasini A (1996) Marked decrease of plasma neuroactive steroids during alcohol withdrawal. Clin Neuropharmacol 19:366–369

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romeo E, Pompili E, di Michele F, Pace M, Rupprecht R, Bernardi G, Pasinib A (2000) Effects of fluoxetine, indomethacine and placebo on 3 alpha, 5 alpha tetrahydroprogesterone (THP) plasma levels in uncomplicated alcohol withdrawal. World J Biol Psychiatry 1:101–104

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkola T, Eriksson CJ (2003) Testosterone increases in men after a low dose of alcohol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 27:682–685

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkola T, Makisalo H, Fukunaga T, Eriksson CJ (1999) Acute effect of alcohol on estradiol, estrone, progesterone, prolactin, cortisol, and luteinizing hormone in premenopausal women. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 23:976–982

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkola T, Fukunaga T, Makisalo H, Eriksson CJ (2000) Acute effect of alcohol on androgens in premenopausal women. Alcohol Alcohol 35:84–90

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schumacher M, McEwen BS (1989) Steroid and barbiturate modulation of the GABA-A receptor. Mol Neurobiol 3:275–280

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Serra M, Pisu MG, Floris I, Cara V, Purdy RH, Biggio G (2003) Social isolation-induced increase in the sensitivity of rats to the steroidogenic effect of ethanol. J Neurochem 85:257–263

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shacham S (1983) A shortened version of the Profile of Mood States. J Pers Assess 47:305–306

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sierksma A, Sarkola T, Eriksson CJ, van der Gaag MS, Grobbee DE, Hendriks HF (2004) Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone, and estradiol levels in middle-aged men and postmenopausal women: a diet-controlled intervention study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 28:780–785

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sobell LC, Sobell MD (1992) Timeline follow-back: a technique for assessing self-reported alcohol consumption. In: Litten R, Allen J (eds) Measuring alcohol consumption. Human, Clifton, NJ, pp 41–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Spivak B, Maayan R, Kotler M, Mester R, Gil-Ad I, Shtaif B, Weizman A (2000) Elevated circulatory level of GABA(A)-antagonistic neurosteroids in patients with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychol Med 30:1227–1231

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strous RD, Spivak B, Yoran-Hegesh R, Maayan R, Averbuch E, Kotler M, Mester R, Weizman A (2001) Analysis of neurosteroid levels in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 4:259–264

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swift RM, Whelihan W, Kuznetsov O, Buongiorno G, Hsuing H (1994) Naltrexone-induced alterations in human ethanol intoxication. Am J Psychiatry 151:1463–1467

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teoh SK, Mendelson JH, Mello NK, Skupny A, Ellingboe J (1990) Alcohol effects on hCG-stimulated gonadal hormones in women. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 254:407–411

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torres JM, Ortega E (2003) Alcohol intoxication increases allopregnanolone levels in female adolescent humans. Neuropsychopharmacology 28:1207–1209

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torres JM, Ortega E (2004) Alcohol intoxication increases allopregnanolone levels in male adolescent humans. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 172:352–355

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uzunova V, Sheline Y, Davis JM, Rasmusson A, Uzunov DP, Costa E, Guidotti A (1998) Increase in the cerebrospinal fluid content of neurosteroids in patients with unipolar major depression who are receiving fluoxetine or fluvoxamine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:3239–3244

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valimaki M, Harkonen M, Ylikahri R (1983) Acute effects of alcohol on female sex hormones. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 7:289–293

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • VanDoren MJ, Matthews DB, Janis GC, Grobin AC, Devaud LL, Morrow AL (2000) Neuroactive steriod 3-alpha-hydroxy-5-alpha-pregnan-20-one modulates electrophysiological and behavioral actions of ethanol. J Nuerosci 20:1982–1989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watson PE (1989) Total body water and blood alcohol levels: updating the fundamentals. In: Crow KE, Batt RD (eds) Human Metabolism of Alcohol. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 41–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiebe JP, Kavaliers M (1988) Analgesic effects of the putative FSH-suppressing gonadal steroid, 3 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-20-one: possible modes of action. Brain Res 461:150–157

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wieland S, Lan NC, Mirasedeghi S, Gee KW (1991) Anxiolytic activity of the progesterone metabolites 5 alpha-pregnen-3 alpha-o1-20-one. Brain Res 565:263–268

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolkowitz OM, Epel ES, Reus VI (2001) Stress hormone-related psychopathology: pathophysiological and treatment implications. World J Biol Psychiatry 2:115–143

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by NIH grants AA13736, AA07290, AA03510, AA10564, and RR06192 [University of Connecticut General Clinical Research Center (GCRC)] and by the VA MIRECC (VISN 6). Contributions by the staff of the Clinical Research and Evaluation Unit of the Alcohol Research Center and the GCRC are gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Alcohol Research Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA

    Amira Pierucci-Lagha, Jonathan Covault, Richard Feinn & Henry R. Kranzler

  2. Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Rahul T. Khisti & A. Leslie Morrow

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center and Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27705, USA

    Christine E. Marx & Lawrence J. Shampine

Authors
  1. Amira Pierucci-Lagha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jonathan Covault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Richard Feinn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rahul T. Khisti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Leslie Morrow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Christine E. Marx
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Lawrence J. Shampine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Henry R. Kranzler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Henry R. Kranzler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pierucci-Lagha, A., Covault, J., Feinn, R. et al. Subjective effects and changes in steroid hormone concentrations in humans following acute consumption of alcohol. Psychopharmacology 186, 451–461 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0231-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0231-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation