Allopregnanolone identity-and-context orientation. The fused-ring model is not an atom-complete structure, and the plate does not show binding, channel state, dose, treatment response, mood, pregnancy, or diagnosis.
Scientific media record3 verified identifiers
- Subject
- Allopregnanolonebiological-process
- Review
- Editorial review completeIdentifiers authority-verified · Accessibility validated · · allopregnanolone|allopregnanolone-mechanism-v1.webp
- Digital source
- Trained-algorithmic mediaCreated with a trained generative algorithm and reviewed by WikiBiome for subject identity, scientific framing, identifiers, provenance, and accessibility.
- Scientific basis
- Allopregnanolone — PubChemAllopregnanolone — ChEBI
- License
- CC BY-SA 4.0Created
Allopregnanolone (3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one) is a neurosteroid metabolite of progesterone that is the most potent endogenous positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors. It is central to the pathophysiology of PMDD and postpartum depression—conditions where abnormal sensitivity to allopregnanolone fluctuations drives mood dysregulation.
Evidence map3 cited passagesInspect provenance +
In PMDD, patients have paradoxical sensitivity to allopregnanolone—normal luteal phase rises in allopregnanolone trigger anxiety and dysphoria rather than the expected anxiolytic/sedative effect.
Brexanolone (IV allopregnanolone) is FDA-approved for postpartum depression; zuranolone (oral) extends this to MDD.
Postpartum depression correlates with the precipitous drop in allopregnanolone at delivery.
PMDD and PPD#
In PMDD, patients have paradoxical sensitivity to allopregnanolone—normal luteal phase rises in allopregnanolone trigger anxiety and dysphoria rather than the expected anxiolytic/sedative effect.[1]Gao 2023 — Allopregnanolone-GABA_A Receptor Sensitivity in PMDD PathogenesisQian Gao, Wei Sun, Yue-Rui Wang et al. · 2023Open reference 1 ↓[2]Itriyeva 2022 — PMS and PMDD in Adolescents (Review)Khalida Itriyeva · 2022Open reference 2 ↓
Brexanolone (IV allopregnanolone) is FDA-approved for postpartum depression; zuranolone (oral) extends this to MDD.[3]Sundström-Poromaa 2023 — New Pharmacological Approaches to PMDD ManagementInger Sundström-Poromaa, Erika Comasco · 2023Open reference 3 ↓ Postpartum depression correlates with the precipitous drop in allopregnanolone at delivery.[4]Suryawanshi 2022 — A Comprehensive Review on Postpartum DepressionOm Suryawanshi, Sandhya Pajai · 2022Open reference 4 ↓
Microbiome Connection#
The Gut Microbiome modulates steroid hormone metabolism including progesterone→allopregnanolone conversion. GABA-producing bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) interact with the GABAergic system that allopregnanolone modulates—a microbiome-neurosteroid-neurotransmitter axis. Dysbiosis-driven Metal-Driven Inflammation (elevated IL-6, TNF-alpha) alters neurosteroid synthesis enzyme expression.
Cross-References#
- GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)—allopregnanolone modulates GABA-A receptors
- Serotonin—complementary neuroactive pathway in PMDD/PPD
- Estrobolome—steroid hormone metabolism by gut bacteria
- Gut-Brain Axis—neurosteroid signaling
References 5
Numbered by first appearance in the article, then reconciled with its declared source list.
- 1
Qian Gao, Wei Sun, Yue-Rui Wang et al. (2023). Gao 2023 — Allopregnanolone-GABA_A Receptor Sensitivity in PMDD Pathogenesis. Frontiers in Psychiatry.
- 2
Khalida Itriyeva (2022). Itriyeva 2022 — PMS and PMDD in Adolescents (Review). Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care.
- 3
Inger Sundström-Poromaa, Erika Comasco (2023). Sundström-Poromaa 2023 — New Pharmacological Approaches to PMDD Management. CNS Drugs.
- 4
Om Suryawanshi, Sandhya Pajai (2022). Suryawanshi 2022 — A Comprehensive Review on Postpartum Depression. Cureus.
- 5
Bo Liu, Guangbin Wang, Dongmei Gao et al. (2014). Liu 2014 — GABA and Glutamate-Glutamine Alterations in PMDD (3T MRS). Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.
Article network
Connect the evidence
Publicly readable discussion by ORCID-authenticated researchers. Questions, interpretation, methods, corrections, and new evidence stay attached to this record.
No discussion yet. Start with a precise question or a source-backed observation.
Activity and accepted changes
Accepted researcher context, editorial status, public discussion, and upstream Git revisions are shown together. Pending, declined, and withdrawn proposals remain private.
- published revision
Backfill gut microbiome concept links
Karen Pendergrass · +1 −1
Inspect exact Git diff ↗ - published revision
Backfill inflammation concept links
Karen Pendergrass · +1 −1
Inspect exact Git diff ↗ - published revision
Complete corpus-wide Dysbiosis linking
Karen Pendergrass · +1 −1
Inspect exact Git diff ↗ - published revision
massive wiki expansion: 149 stubs fixed, 100+ new pages, Rule 15 scan, keystone papers
WikiBiome Deploy Bot · +43 −0
Inspect exact Git diff ↗