Do you know: Scientists get key differences in male answers, women’s stress
A new study led by UF Health found why men and women could have stress, providing a vital insight into how the brain molecular mechanisms for acute challenges.
The neurosteroid brain called allopregnanolone, or AP, produces a sharp but intense reaction of a sudden challenge or threat. Raised levels are an integral part of the body’s initial stress response, which helps individuals to adapt and regact quickly. For example, when stress events are about to happen, AP levels contribute to focus and energy by helping individuals stay on the right track and respond effectively.
The production of AP depends on an enzyme called 5?-reductase, or 5?r, containing in two main forms: 5?r1 and 5?r2. UF pharmaceutical college researchers used animals to show how these enzymes operate, emphasizing biological differences in stress responses between men and women.
“In general, men tend to show aggressive responses to acute stress, but women have a much greater tendency to internalize their answers. It is believed that this distinction contributes to the prevalence of anxiety and higher depression, “said Marco Bortolato, MD, Ph.D., Professor of pharmacinsics at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and senior author of the study published Jan. 22 I Science progress.
The study showed that sharp -Strus 5?r2 levels – but not 5?r1 – in the initial brain region of male laboratory rats. Female rats, however, did not show any such change, emphasizing a significant difference that is specific to sex on how stress could be managed at the molecular level.
The researchers found that 5?r2 is essential to produce AP during stress, and 5?r1 helps to maintain the baseline levels of this critical neurosteroid.
When the researchers decreased 5?r2 in male rats, these animals were not smaller and slower to respond to acute stress and reward stimuli. However, the administration of AP has renovated this ability, emphasizing the importance of the enemies. The analysis showed that 5?r2 stimulates protein in the neurons of animals during stress and supports the brain helping it more effectively adapt.
“Our research is at the intersection of stress and sex response differences, which have major implications for personalized medicine,” said Bortolato. “For example, understand the reason that women are more placed to depression than men for us to adapt more targeted treatments. Ultimately, these results could help develop drugs specifically modify stress answers. “
Bortolato is very impressed with the potential to transfer these results to new medicines, noting that they could pave the way for a new class of steroid-based compounds. These compounds can play a vital role in treating depression forms that are resistant to current therapies.
“The depression is the main cause of disability in the world, mainly due to increasing chronic stress levels,” said Bortolato. “Traditional antidepressants often take two or four weeks to show the initial results. Conversely, AP-based treatments may have much faster effects.
Contributions were from Giulia Braccagni, Ph.D., co-author of the article and postdoctoral member in UF pharmaceutical college, and Caterina Branca, Ph.D. .
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