Alteration in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in depressed women

Background: Stress and corticotropin-releasing hormone inhibit the reproduc tive axis. We hypothesized that reproductive axis hormone secretion, partic ularly luteinizing hormone secretion, is inhibited in women with depression , similar to what has been observed to be caused by stress in numerous spec ies. Methods: Blood samples were collected every 10 minutes for 12 hours in 25 u ntreated premenopausal women with depression and 25 nondepressed women who were matched by age and menstrual cycle day. Samples were assayed for lutei nizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, and progesterone. Results: The mean plasma estradiol level was 30% lower in the follicular ph ase in women with depression than in their matched controls: 191+/-136 vs 2 61+/-169 pmol/L (52 +/- 37 vs 71 +/- 46 pg/mL). The half-life of luteinizin g hormone was significantly shorter in women with depression than in their matched controls during both the follicular (22% shorter) and luteal (15% s horter) phases. Conclusions: The blood levels of reproductive hormones were mostly normal i n women with depression, but the blood level of estradiol was significantly lower. Estradiol is known to affect a number of neurotransmitter systems i n the brain.