网红黑料

GAINESVILLE, Fla. 鈥� A new study led by researchers at 网红黑料 has uncovered why males and females may experience stress differently, providing crucial insights into how the brain鈥檚 molecular mechanisms adapt to acute challenges.

The brain produces a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone, or AP, in response to acute stress 鈥� a brief but intense reaction to a sudden challenge or threat. Elevated levels are a key part of the body鈥檚 initial stress response, helping individuals quickly adapt and regulate their reactions. For example, when facing stressful events such as an imminent danger, elevated AP levels boost focus and energy by helping individuals stay on track and respond effectively.

The production of AP relies on an enzyme called 5伪-reductase, or 5伪R, which exists in two main forms: 5伪R1 and 5伪R2. UF College of Pharmacy researchers used animal studies to reveal how these enzymes function, highlighting biological differences in stress responses between men and women.

鈥淢en, in general, tend to have a greater propensity to display outward, aggressive reactions to acute stress, whereas women have a much greater tendency to internalize their responses. This distinction is believed to contribute to the higher female prevalence of anxiety and depression,鈥� said , M.D., Ph.D., a professor of in the and senior author of the study in Science Advances.

The study revealed that acute stress raises levels of 5伪R2 鈥� but not 5伪R1 鈥� in the front region of the brain of male laboratory rats. Female rats, however, showed no such change, highlighting a significant sex-specific difference in how stress may be managed at the molecular level.

The researchers found that 5伪R2 is essential for producing AP during stress, while 5伪R1 helps maintain baseline levels of this critical neurosteroid.

When the researchers reduced 5伪R2 in male rats, these animals were less engaged and slower to respond to both acute stress and rewarding stimuli. However, administering AP restored this ability, underscoring the enzyme鈥檚 importance. Analysis showed that during stress, 5伪R2 stimulates protein production in the animals鈥� neurons and support cells in the brain helping it adapt more effectively.

鈥淥ur research sits at the intersection of stress response and sex differences, which have major potential implications for personalized medicine,鈥� Bortolato said. 鈥淔or instance, understanding why women are more susceptible to depression than men allows us to tailor more targeted treatments. Ultimately, these findings could help guide the development of drugs that specifically modulate stress responses.鈥�

Bortolato is excited about the potential to translate these findings into new medicines, noting that they may eventually pave the way for a novel class of steroid-based compounds. These compounds could play a crucial role in treating forms of depression that are resistant to current therapies.

鈥淒epression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, largely due to increasing levels of chronic stress,鈥� Bortolato said. 鈥淐onventional antidepressants often take two to four weeks to show initial results. Conversely, AP-based treatments could have much faster effects. Enhancing our ability to produce AP could transform the way we approach depression and other stress-related disorders.鈥�

The study featured contributions from , Ph.D., co-first author of the article and a postdoctoral fellow in the UF College of Pharmacy, and , Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the UF College of Pharmacy.