Cited by 48Stress Responses and CortisolAdrenal Hormones and DisordersMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Neuroactive steroids and stress axis regulation: Pregnancy and beyond

Brunton, Paula J.·2016·The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Abstract

The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a critical role in regulating responses to stress and long term dysregulation of the HPA axis is associated with higher rates of mood disorders. There are circumstances where the HPA axis is more or less responsive to stress. For example, during late pregnancy ACTH and corticosterone responses to stress are markedly suppressed, whereas in offspring born to mothers that experienced repeated stress during pregnancy, the HPA axis is hyper-responsive to stress. Neuroactive steroids such as allopregnanolone, tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) and androstanediol can modulate HPA axis activity and concentrations of some neuroactive steroids in the brain are altered during pregnancy and following stress. Thus, here altered neurosteroidogenesis is proposed as a mechanism that could underpin the dynamic changes in HPA axis regulation typically observed in late pregnant and in prenatally stressed individuals. In support of this hypothesis, evidence in rats demonstrates that elevated levels of allopregnanolone in pregnancy induce a central inhibitory opioid mechanism that serves to minimize stress-induced HPA axis activity. Conversely, in prenatally stressed rodents, where HPA axis stress responses are enhanced, evidence indicates the capacity of the brain for neurosteroidogenesis is reduced. Understanding the mechanisms involved in adaptations in HPA axis regulation may provide insights for manipulating stress sensitivity and for developing therapies for stress-related disorders in humans.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.08.003

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Authors
Brunton, P. J.
Affiliations
Roslin Institute (GB)
Corresponding author
Brunton, Paula J.
Venue
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-06
Volume
160
Pages
160-168
ISSN
0960-0760 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1140196183
Cited by
48
References
123
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3
FWCI
0.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBS/E/D/20251969)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Keywords
neurosteroids, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, pregnancy, prenatal stress, allopregnanolone, tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone, androstanediol, neurosteroidogenesis, stress response, corticosterone, ACTH, stress-related disorders, mood disorders
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Female, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Pregnancy, Pregnanolone, Stress, Physiological, Neurotransmitter Agents

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