Improvement in ratings of tension after TRH administration in healthy women

Abstract

Administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), 400 micrograms i.v., to healthy premenopausal women resulted in improvement in ratings of tension on the 100 mm line test. The max. mean improvement in tension ratings was significantly greater after TRH than after saline (t = 2.27, df = 9, p less than 0.05); after TRH administration, eight of 10 subjects showed greater than 30% improvement in tension ratings, while only three of 10 subjects receiving saline reported a comparable degree of improvement. No significant improvement in ratings of mood state were noted after administration of either TRH or saline. These findings extend previous reports of behavioral effects of TRH in normal subjects. The possibility that the behavioral effects of TRH may be influenced by the state of activity of the CNS is discussed.