--- title: Does the antidepressant fluoxetine reduce aggressive behavior during low-hormone phases in female rats? description: Yes. Fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg given for 4-5 days reduced aggressive behavior both during the naturally low-hormone phase and after hormone replacement in rats w url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitor-fluoxetine-reduces-sex-steroid-related-2001/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the antidepressant fluoxetine reduce aggressive behavior during low-hormone phases in female rats? Lab study, 2001 # Does the antidepressant fluoxetine reduce aggressive behavior during low-hormone phases in female rats? Yes. Fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg given for 4-5 days reduced aggressive behavior both during the naturally low-hormone phase and after hormone replacement in rats without ovaries. Early or limited evidence Female Wistar rats, some with ovaries removed ## What they did Researchers watched female Wistar rats when an unfamiliar rat was introduced into their cage (a test of aggression). They measured aggression across different phases of the natural hormone cycle. They removed some rats' ovaries and then gave them estrogen and progesterone to mimic the natural cycle. They tested fluoxetine to see if it reduced aggression. ## What they found Aggressive behavior was higher during phases with low hormone levels than during high hormone phases. Removing the ovaries eliminated aggression. When ovariectomized rats were given estrogen and progesterone cyclically, aggression returned in animals that had been aggressive before surgery. Fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg for 4-5 days reduced aggressive behavior both in naturally cycling rats and in hormone-replaced rats. ## What it means for you Cycle-linked aggression in rats might model the irritability some women with PMDD experience, and antidepressants like fluoxetine work the same way in both. The main limits are that this is an animal study and only some rats showed cycle-linked aggression. 10 mg/kg fluoxetine dose 4-5 days fluoxetine duration ## About the study Original title The serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine reduces sex steroid-related aggression in female rats: an animal model of premenstrual irritability? Authors Ho HP, Olsson M, Westberg L et al. Journal Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Year 2001 Study design Lab study What was tested Fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg for 4-5 days, and estrogen and progesterone in ovariectomized rats Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0893-133x(00)00219-0](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0893-133x(00)00219-0) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Surgical menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-surgery/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Lab study, 2022 Can we create a rat model of PMDD irritability and does treatment help? Lab study, 2007 Can antidepressants reduce anxious-like behavior during low-hormone phases in female rats? Review, 2018 What are the most effective treatments for premenstrual syndrome and PMDD? Review, 2004 What is PMDD and how is it treated? Review, 2004 How should doctors diagnose and treat PMS and PMDD? Review, 2002 What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗