269 citations
,
May 2002 in “Hormones and Behavior” Lowering 3α,5α-THP in the hippocampus increases anxiety and depression in proestrous rats.
180 citations
,
June 2004 in “Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics” Progesterone's seizure-reducing effects are mainly due to allopregnanolone, not progesterone receptors.
151 citations
,
December 2004 in “Neuropharmacology” Progesterone reduces anxiety without needing progesterone receptors.
123 citations
,
June 2006 in “Journal of Neurobiology” Progesterone protects brain cells, but Provera does not.
96 citations
,
September 1975 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Hormone levels change during puberty, leading to physical developments like pubic hair and voice changes.
85 citations
,
May 2009 in “Hippocampus” Progesterone helps adult male mice grow more neurons and improves memory.
83 citations
,
November 2006 in “European Journal of Neuroscience” Progesterone protects rat brain cells by enhancing GABA A receptor activity.
83 citations
,
February 1977 in “PubMed” Increasing light exposure in winter can make mares ovulate and cycle earlier.
60 citations
,
June 2007 in “Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior” Blocking progesterone metabolism can cause depression-like behavior in mice.
48 citations
,
February 1999 in “PubMed” Finasteride, a drug, can block the seizure-preventing effects of a hormone called progesterone in mice.
47 citations
,
November 2002 in “Journal of Neurochemistry” Progesterone boosts alcohol's effect on brain, finasteride counters it.
43 citations
,
December 2012 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Progesterone protects neurons from damage by converting to allopregnanolone, which works through GABAA receptors.
35 citations
,
January 2005 in “Brain Research” Progesterone's anesthetic effects don't rely on progesterone receptors.
33 citations
,
January 2009 in “Contraception” Chlormadinone acetate is a strong, well-tolerated hormone used in birth control and hormone therapy with benefits for menstrual pain and skin conditions.
33 citations
,
January 2008 in “Journal of Molecular Neuroscience”
30 citations
,
February 2003 in “Annals of Neurology” Progesterone and related compounds may help control seizures linked to the menstrual cycle but have limitations that need addressing.
28 citations
,
November 2009 in “European Journal of Neuroscience” Progesterone and allopregnanolone increase glycine release in rat brain cells.
27 citations
,
April 2007 in “European Journal of Pharmacology” Progesterone increases alcohol tolerance and withdrawal anxiety, while DHEAS prevents them.
27 citations
,
April 1998 in “American Journal of Dermatopathology” Estrogen and progesterone don't directly affect hair growth in androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata.
26 citations
,
November 2013 in “Neuroscience” Progesterone can reduce seizures without relying on the GABAA receptor pathway.
26 citations
,
July 2012 in “Epilepsy & Behavior” Finasteride worsens seizures in epilepsy rats and speeds up epileptogenesis in mice.
26 citations
,
June 2011 in “Molecular Medicine” Progesterone significantly reduces neuroblastoma tumor growth without harming healthy cells.
25 citations
,
July 2006 in “Journal of Neurochemistry” Progesterone affects GABAA receptor function by altering δ subunit levels.
25 citations
,
February 1977 in “American Journal of Veterinary Research” Increasing daylight to 16 hours in winter can make mares ovulate and cycle earlier.
23 citations
,
July 2003 in “Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior” Finasteride blocks progesterone's effect on absence seizures in rats.
21 citations
,
May 2016 in “Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry” Diazepam's effects on anxiety and memory differ between male and female rats due to hormonal influences.
21 citations
,
January 2015 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Progesterone byproduct 5αP stimulates mammary tumor growth, but finasteride can suppress it.
19 citations
,
October 2019 in “BMC Neuroscience” Blood hormone levels don't accurately show brain hormone levels in males.
18 citations
,
March 2020 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” The enzymes 5α-reductase and 3α/β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase help create brain-active substances from progesterone and testosterone, which could be used for treatment, but more research is needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
17 citations
,
October 2015 in “The Journal of Physiology” Combining progesterone with caffeine worsens breathing issues in newborns.