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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Psychotropic Effect of Combined Estrogen-Vit B6 Treatment in Endogenously Depressed Females

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Estrogens are among the most commonly prescribed substances in females. Also endogenous estrogen levels change dramatically throughout life and this biological variable has been associated with several psychological signs like premenstrual tension syndrome and depression in older age. Along with clinical practice there is increasing evidence from neuropharmacology suggesting a psychotropic action of estrogens (review: Holsboer, 1982). The most prominent findings are: 1. Reduction of monoamine-oxidase (MAO)-activity by estrogens (McEwen et al., 1978); 2. Competitive inhibition of catechol-o-methyltransferase by 2-hydroxyestrogens, which are major metabolites of estrogens in the CNS (Breuer et al., 1978). 3. Estrogens seem to modulate the dynamic range of dopamine autoreceptors. DiPaolo et al. (1984) have postulated that estrogens may act as weak neuroleptics. By stimulation of dopamine (DA)-autoreceptors they may enhance dopaminergic transmission and down-regulation of presynaptic DA receptors. This mode of action is also reported for antidepressants by some (Serra et al., 1981; Antelman and Chiodo, 1981) but not all (Holcomb et al., 1982) researchers; 4. Some recent reports indicate that the cholinergic (Miller, 1983) and serotonergic (DiPaolo et al., 1983) systems are also affected by estrogens.