Platelet peripheral-type benzodiazepine in pregnancy and lactation

Abraham Weizman, Efrat Dagan, Boris Kaplan, Leon Karp, Suzanna Malmud, Irit Gil-Ad, Svetlana Leschiner, Solomon H. Snyder, Moshe Gavish*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of hormonal changes during pregnancy and lactation on the expression of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors in platelet membranes. Platelet peripheral benzodiazepine receptor binding characteristics, Hamilton anxiety and depression rating Scores, and progesterone and prolactin (PRL) levels were evaluated during pregnancy and lactation in 17 pregnant women [first (n = 9) and third (n = 8) trimesters], 10 lactating women, and 8 nonpregnant women. A significant decrease (38-41%) in peripheral benzodiazepine receptor density was observed in women during the third trimester of pregnancy when compared to nonpregnant controls and women in their first trimester of pregnancy. The decrease is peripheral benzodiazepine receptors was parallel to the peak in progesterone and PRL secretion. The reduction in peripheral benzodiazepine receptor expression is hormone-dependent and may play a regulatory role geared to prevent pregnancy-related overactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, and hypothalamic-PRL axes. Copyright (C) 1999 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)513-518
Number of pages6
JournalNeuropsychopharmacology
Volume21
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1999

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Benzodiazepine receptor
  • Depression
  • Progesterone
  • Prolactin

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