---
title: Could changes in brain receptors explain premenstrual anxiety?
description: Possibly, based on animal studies. When progesterone drops (like before a period), rat brains show changes in GABA receptors in regions that control panic and
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/plasticity-of-gabaa-receptor-subunit-expression-during-the-oestrous-cycle-of-the-2006/
---

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- Could changes in brain receptors explain premenstrual anxiety?

Review, 2006

# Could changes in brain receptors explain premenstrual anxiety?

Possibly, based on animal studies. When progesterone drops (like before a period), rat brains show changes in GABA receptors in regions that control panic and anxiety, though whether this happens in women's brains is unknown.

 Early or limited evidence

Review article based on animal studies

## What they did

This is a review article discussing studies in female rats. Researchers examined how GABA receptors in the brain change after progesterone dosing is stopped, and observed natural changes during the rat estrous cycle.

## What they found

When progesterone levels fell (during late dioestrus, which resembles the human premenstrual phase), the brain made more alpha4, beta1, and delta GABA receptor subunits in the periaqueductal grey matter, a region involved in panic and anxiety.

## What it means for you

This suggests a possible brain mechanism for premenstrual anxiety and mood changes: changes in how neurons are built and configured. However, this is based on rat studies, and human brain evidence is limited. Whether this actually happens in women remains unknown.

## About the study

Original title Plasticity of GABAA receptor subunit expression during the oestrous cycle of the rat: implications for premenstrual syndrome in women Authors Lovick TA Journal Experimental physiology Year 2006 Study design Review What was tested None. This is a review summarizing research. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2005.032342](https://doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2005.032342)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)

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## Related studies

Randomised trial, 2017

Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)?

Case-control study, 2025

Do certain hormone-related brain chemicals predict how bad premenstrual depression and anxiety will be?

Randomised trial, 2023

Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms?

Survey study, 2014

Does allopregnanolone, a progesterone metabolite, cause mood problems in PMDD?

Lab study, 2013

Could antidepressants help prevent PMS by keeping brain chemicals stable?

Survey study, 2011

Why do women get panic disorder more often than men?

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