Studies on the Antidepressant Effects of New Bioactive Steroids delta5-diol and 3betaAdiol

• Project/Area Number: 17K10271
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: SUGIYAMA Nobuhiro 信州大学, 学術研究院保健学系, 教授 (30422695)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2021)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,550,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,050,000); Fiscal Year 2021: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
• Keywords: 女性ホルモン / うつ病 / 性差 / 精神薬理学 / 抗うつ薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To investigate the antidepressant effects of the new bioactive steroids 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol (3βAdiol) and androstenediol (Δ5-diol), we measured serum concentrations of 3βAdiol and Δ5-diol and investigated depressive symptoms in healthy young volunteers, evaluating changes during the menstrual cycle and comparing between men and women. The results indicated that 3βAdiol and estradiol may play an important role in mood changes associated with menstruation, and 3βAdiol and Δ5-diol may play an important role in gender differences in depressive symptoms.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

女性は男性のほぼ2倍うつ病に罹患しやすく，その性差の生物学的な規定因子は未だ不明である．5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol (3βAdiol) とAndrostenediol (Δ5-diol)は抗うつ効果を有する重要なステロイドホルモンと推測されてきたが，ヒトを対象とした研究はこれまでほとんどなかった．
本研究が明らかにした3βAdiolとΔ5-diolの血清濃度の明確な性差は，うつ病の病態生理の理解を深める上で重要な知見であり，うつ病の新しい治療法や予防法の開発につながる可能性がある．

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Sex differences in serum levels of 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol, and androstenediol in the young adults: A liquid chromatography?tandem mass spectrometry study (2021)
  • Author(s): Tanabe Haruka、Mutai Hitoshi、Sasayama Daimei、Sasamoto Hidehiko、Miyashiro Yoshimichi、Sugiyama Nobuhiro、Washizuka Shinsuke
  • Journal Title: PLOS ONE Volume: 16 Issue: 12 Pages: e0261440-e0261440
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261440
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access