The allopregnanolone to progesterone ratio across the menstrual cycle and in menopause

Abstract

The neuroactive steroid 3α-5α-tetrahydroprogesterone (allopregnanolone), a metabolite of progesterone, is a positive allosteric modulator of GABA_A receptors, and low levels have been implicated in the etiology of mood disorders. However, it is not known whether metabolism of progesterone to allopregnanolone varies across the menstrual cycle or is low after menopause. We hypothesized that the allopregnanolone/progesterone ratio would decrease from the follicular to luteal phase. We also hypothesized that postmenopausal women would have lower levels of progesterone and allopregnanolone but similar allopregnanolone/progesterone ratios as premenopausal women in the follicular phase. Serum fasting allopregnanolone and progesterone levels were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in ten premenopausal women at the follicular, mid-cycle, and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle and in twenty-four postmenopausal women. Although allopregnanolone and progesterone levels increased from the follicular to luteal phase, the allopregnanolone/progesterone ratio decreased 8-fold [0.33 ± 0.08 (follicular) vs 0.16 ± 0.09 (mid-cycle) vs 0.04 ± 0.007 (luteal), p = 0.0003]. Mean allopregnanolone and progesterone levels were lower in postmenopausal than premenopausal women at all menstrual cycle phases (p < 0.01). The mean allopregnanolone/progesterone ratio was similar in postmenopausal and premenopausal women in the follicular phase (0.39 ± 0.08 vs 0.33 ± 0.08, p = 0.94) but was significantly lower at mid-cycle and in the luteal phase than in postmenopausal women (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the serum allopregnanolone/progesterone ratio decreases 8-fold from the follicular to luteal phase and is lower at mid-cycle and the luteal phase than in postmenopausal women. Whether these data have implications for luteal phase and other mood disorders merits further study.

Keywords: Allopregnanolone; Menopause; Menstrual cycle; Neuroactive steroids.

Figure 1.

Both allopregnanolone (a) and progesterone (b) increased across the menstrual cycle. Mean levels of allopregnanolone (a) and progesterone (b) were lower in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women at all menstrual cycle phases. The allopregnanolone/progesterone ratio (c) decreased across the menstrual cycle and was lower than postmenopausal levels at the mid-cycle and in the luteal phase. *indicates p<0.05 for premenopausal women vs postmenopausal women. **indicates p<0.05 for hormone measurements across the entire menstrual cycle. Error bars indicate SEM. PRE = premenopausal women, POST = postmenopausal women.