Neuropsychobiological Correlates of Sex-steroid Hormone Manipulation in Healthy Women: a Risk Model for Depression (GnRHa)

The project aimed at identifying neuropsychobiological signatures of pharmacological sex-steroid hormone manipulations in healthy women as a risk model for depression.

The study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Investigators included 63 healthy female volunteers with regular menstrual cycles between 23 and 35 days. Participants were randomized to active Gonadotrophin-Releasing-Hormone agonist (GnRHa) (goserelin 3.6 mg implant) or placebo (saline injection) intervention, which was initiated in the mid follicular phase (i.e. cycle day 22.6 ±2.5). Sixty women completed follow-up and entered the analyses, except for a few drop outs on some domains. The following domains were addressed at baseline and at follow-up (16±3 days post intervention), (which corresponded to the early ovarian suppression phase of the biphasic hormone response to GnRHa): 1) serotonin transporter binding as imaged by 11CDASB Positron Emission Tomography (PET), 2) functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) emotional processing, 3) fMRI reward processing, 3) rating state fMRI (rsfMRI), 4) structural MRI, 5) Neuropsychology, 6) Psychophysiology, 7) Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal cortex (HPA)-axis dynamics, 8) Peripheral markers of immunoactive cell responses, 9) Epigenetic factors.

Psychometrics in terms of self reported mental distress and interview based ratings were monitored across the intervention period to monitor potential symptoms of mental distress and psychopathology. Also ovarian hormone responses, peripheral blood markers, and side effects scores were collected across the intervention period.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Schizophrenia; Postpartum Depression; Menopause; Major Depressive Disorder; Neurodegeneration; Postpartum Psychosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Goserelin 3.6 mg implant; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

Aims and hypotheses:

Gender matters in normal brain function as well as in neuropsychiatric disorders. E.g. the vulnerability to mood and anxiety disorders is considerably greater in women. Among other factors, this possibly reflects gender differences in central serotonergic function since dysfunction of serotonergic neurotransmission is critically involved in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. In particular, women going through phases in life where sex hormones decline rapidly from high levels or fluctuate, have a higher frequency of severe mood state changes and are more vulnerable to psychiatric disorders, e.g. across the pre to postpartum and menopausal transition. Interestingly, this risk is associated with increased variability of the plasma levels of the sex-hormone estradiol. Therefore, sex-hormone manipulation with a pharmacologically induced biphasic ovarian hormone response serve as a unique opportunity to study how sex-hormone fluctuations provoke mood state changes and increase vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders.

In this project investigators aimed at investigating whether sex-hormone manipulation affects: 1. Molecular imaging markers of serotonergic neurotransmission in vivo, 2. Brain structure, architecture and functional connectivity, 3. Stress and inflammatory responses, and 4. Cognitive functions, emotional processing, and information filtering, of importance in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Mentally healthy female volunteers were assessed at baseline (i.e cycle day 6.6 ±2.2) and at follow-up (i.e 16.2 ±2.6 days post intervention) in the early ovarian suppression phase af a Gonadotrophin-Releasing-Hormone agonist response in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded design (cohort size aim: N=30x2).

Research in neurobiological correlates of vulnerability related to sex-hormone changes is pivotal to improve the etiological understanding of brain disorders with gender differences in their incidence and/or nature. Such research may contribute to ameliorate fertility treatment, to improve treatment of mood disorders and schizophrenia, and, ideally, shed light on possible preventive strategies in vulnerable phases of women's lives such as the pre- to post-partum and menopausal transition period.

Hypotheses:

Investigators hypothesised that sex-hormone manipulation is associated with the following: 1. Compromised serotonergic neurotransmission, 2. Changes in functional and structural connectivity and lower hippocampal brain volumes and/or markers of decreased neurogenesis, 3. Increased stress reactivity and inflammatory responses, and 4. Changes in neurocognitive functioning and negative bias in emotional processing and information filtering. Investigators further hypothesised that these changes occur in a manner dependent on the magnitude of the estradiol drop from baseline and dependent on symptoms of depressed and anxious mood.

General study design:

The study is a prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, combined within-subject and between-group design of neuropsychobiological changes in response to hormonal down-regulation. The investigation program will be performed at baseline in the mid-follicular phase, at day 5-8 of the menstrual cycle, and in the down-regulated state, 14-19 days after GnRHa intervention.

Participants. Investigators aimed at including 60 healthy female volunteers, in the age range 18-40 years. Group 1 (N=30) will receive sex-hormone manipulation with GnRHa, and group 2 (N=30) will receive placebo (saline injection). The inclusion will be stratified according to a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter promoter region (5-HTLPR).

The investigation program includes functional brain imaging of the serotonin transporter with [11C]DASB PET (6) and fMRI, structural brain imaging, blood measurements of sex-hormone levels, inflammatory and epigenetic biomarkers, characterization of the cortisol awakening response, and psychophysiological measures of information processing, and monitoring of symptoms of mental distress and psychopathology across the intervention period. An initial screening program will secure inclusion of healthy controls only and determine trait parameters such as genotypes, IQ and personality measures.

The study was registered at and approved by the Danish Ethical Committee before participant inclusion under the protocol identification number: H-2-2010-108. All participants gave written informed consent.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 63
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Denmark
  • Copenhagen, Denmark, 2100
    • Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy women
• Regular menstrual cycles (23 -35 days cycle length)
• No systemic or intrauterine steroid hormone use

Exclusion Criteria:

• Psychiatric disorder (DSM IV Axis I or WHO ICD-10 diagnostic classification).
• Prior or present neurological or other severe medical condition including substance abuse.
• No drug intake suspected to influence results
• Conditions that may increase risk by participating in the study program including ovarian cysts
• Pregnancy during the last year
• Delivery during the last 2 years
• Presently wishing to obtain pregnancy
• Breast feeding
• Not fluent in Danish or severe visual or hearing impairments
• Earlier or present learning disabilities
• Claustrophobia (due to MRI scans)
• Metal implants (excludes MRI)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Injection of saline	Drug: Placebo; Injection of saline; Other Names: Saline
Active Comparator: GnRHa; Goserelin 3.6 mg implant	Drug: Goserelin 3.6 mg implant; Pharmacologically induced biphasic sex-steroid hormone fluctuation; Other Names: Zoladex

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes from baseline in symptoms of depression	Hamilton 17 item score	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes from baseline in serotonin transporter binding in volumes of interest (VOIs)	PET scan assessed serotonin transporter binding changes	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes from baseline in fMRI response to emotional faces	fMRI response changes to emotional faces in emotion processing network including amygdala reactivity	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes from baseline in fMRI response to gambling paradigm	fMRI response changes to reward (monetary win) paradigm in reward processing network	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes from baseline in rsfMRI changes in functional connectivity	rsfMRI changes in functional connectivity in response to intervention	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes from baseline in affective cognition (VAMT-24 test)	Neuropsychological (VAMT-24 test) outcomes on affective cognition	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes from baseline in reaction time	Changes in reaction time	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Serial mood fluctuations (SD of total mood disturbance (TMD) score of daily POMS across intervention period)	Mood fluctuations measured by serial collection of daily POMS	Intervention start to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes from baseline in hippocampal volume	Hippocampal volumes from structural MRI	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes in pre-pulse-inhibition (PPI) from baseline	Change in amplitude of the startle response to pulse after pre-pulse warning as measured by EMG in the orbicularis oculi muscle (subtraction of averages across a series of 10 repititions at baseline and at follow-up 16±3 days).	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes in a set of markers of immunoactivity across study period	Cytokines, hsCRP and gene transcript profile markers of	Baseline, intervention time, flare-up phase and follow-up
Changes in epigenetic markers of estrogen sensitivity	Epigenetic (methylation) markers	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes in HPA-axis dynamics (the cortisol awakening response)	The cortical awakening response	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes in sensorimotor gating (P50 suppression) from baseline	Changes in sensorimotor gating (P50 suppression) from baseline	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes from baseline in hippocampal microstructure	Hippocampal microstructure from MRI	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes from baseline in fMRI responses to emotional memory paradigm	Changes in brain activation to fMRI emotional memory paradigm - delayed recall forgetting of word prior to emotional disturbance	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes from baseline in Cohens perceived stress score	Changes Cohens perceived stress score	Baseline to follow-up 16±3 days after intervention
Changes in Pittsburg Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI)	Sleep quality self reported weekly across intervention period	Baseline and 1 time per week until follow-up at 16 ±3 days
Side effects scores (project specific 15 items questionnaire)	Total side effect score across and after intervention period	7, 12 and 30 days post intervention
Changes in SCL-R (Symptom check-list revised)	Changes in symptoms of psychopathology across intervention period	Baseline and 1 time per week from intervention to follow up at 16±3 days post intervention
Major Depression Inventory (MDI)	Changes in self-reported symptoms of depression across intervention period	Baseline and 1 time per week from intervention to follow up at 16±3 days post intervention
Changes in profile of mood states (POMS TMD score)	Changes in self-reported symptoms of mental distress across intervention period	Baseline and 1 time per week from intervention to follow up at 16±3 days post intervention

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ovarian hormone responses to intervention	Ovarian hormone responses to intervention, i.e. concentrations of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone in peripheral blood)	Baseline (i.e, cycle day 5-8), intervention time (i.e cycle day 21-23), flare-up phase (i.e, 3-4 days post intervention) and follow-up (i.e.,16±3 days post intervention)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gitte Moos Knudsen
• Collaborators: Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Copenhagen, Denmak; Fertility Clinic Rigshospitalet; CNSR, Glostrup Psychiatric Center; Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center Rigshospitalet; Dept. of Clinical Immunology, Rigshospitalet
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Vibe G Frokjaer, MD, Phd, Neurobiology Research Unit

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Mehta D, Rex-Haffner M, Sondergaard HB, Pinborg A, Binder EB, Frokjaer VG. Genome-wide gene expression in a pharmacological hormonal transition model and its relation to depressive symptoms. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2019 Jul;140(1):77-84. doi: 10.1111/acps.13038. Epub 2019 May 24.
• Fisher PM, Larsen CB, Beliveau V, Henningsson S, Pinborg A, Holst KK, Jensen PS, Svarer C, Siebner HR, Knudsen GM, Frokjaer VG. Pharmacologically Induced Sex Hormone Fluctuation Effects on Resting-State Functional Connectivity in a Risk Model for Depression: A Randomized Trial. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017 Jan;42(2):446-453. doi: 10.1038/npp.2016.208. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 13, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 19, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): January 22, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 22, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 19, 2016
• Last Verified: January 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: MRI; PET; fMRI; Mental health; human; Serotonin; Steroid hormones; Brain Imaging; gender; risk model
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Mood Disorders; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Pregnancy Complications; Puerperal Disorders; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Schizophrenia; Depression, Postpartum; Depressive Disorder, Major; Nerve Degeneration; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Goserelin
• Other Study ID Numbers: GnRHa; H-2-2010-108 (Other Identifier: Ethical Committee)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Via database of Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Knudsen et al 2016, NeuroImage) data will be available for neuroscience research community contingent on approval by scientific board