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Research project The projects aim is to discover the clinical and biological mechanisms behind sex- and stress-steroid induced symptoms and disorders and to develop treatments against the conditions.
Metabolites of stress and sex hormones (GABA-steroids) agonistically modulate the GABA-A receptor and cause mental symptoms and disorders but the mechanisms are poorly known. Only a few individuals react negatively on GABA-steroids but all individuals have variations in GABA-steroids especially women during the menstrual cycle. The reason for individual responses to GABA-steroids is unknown. Previous research indicates that tolerance development with decreased function in the GABA-A system may be one reason. Another is that GABA-steroids have a biphasic action with low levels provoking symptoms while absence or higher levels give less severe symptoms. Personality factors and chronic stress seem to be of importance. Aims are: In humans investigate if tolerance against GABA-steroids occurs in conditions with increased endogenous or exogenous GABA-steroid exposure by using sensitivity tests of the GABA-A system? With brain imaging studies, in humans, investigate if activity in neural structures responsible for emotions, change in response to stimuli under GABA-steroid influence? In animals studies investigate if psychological trait factors, or chronic social stress, are important for the sensitivity towards GABA-steroids? In HEK-cells, expressing single recombinant human GABA-A receptor, with patch-clamp methods, investigate if 3alpha-hydroxy metabolites of endogenous or therapeutic progestagens, androgens and glucocorticoids are active on the GABA-A receptor?
Finansår , 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
huvudman: T. Bäckström, finansiar: VR, y2003: 360, y2004: 460, y2005: 460, y2006: 460, y2007: 550, y2008: 550, y2009: 550,
huvudman: T. Bäckström, finansiar: EU, y2003: 3240, y2004: 3360, y2005: 3400, y2006: 1800, y2007: , y2008: , y2009: ,
huvudman: M. Wang, finansiar: VR, y2003: , y2004: , y2005: 186, y2006: 186, y2007: 186, y2008: , y2009: ,
huvudman: T. Bäckström, finansiar: Industri, y2003: , y2004: , y2005: , y2006: , y2007: 2095, y2008: 2095, y2009: 760,