Low Allopregnanolone in PFS and Multiple Sclerosis

General Discussion
#1

I posted earlier about how people with multiple sclerosis have low allopregnanolone. I found this article and thought I would share.

nursingtimes.net/nursing-pra … 51.article

“The researchers examined the brains of MS patients and other people without MS, quantifying the amount and types of miRNAs present in their brains. They found miRNAs that suppress the expression of protective brain steroids called ‘neurosteroids’, and that the action of miRNAs led to significantly lower levels of these neurosteroids in the brains of MS patients compared with non-MS patients. They determined that the production of a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone was most affected by these miRNAs, and set it as a target for the next phase of their study…When examining brain tissue from MS and non-MS patients, the researchers found significant differences in the expression of miRNAs between the two groups. Most of these miRNAs were involved in regulating genes involved in immune responses and inflammation. Those miRNAs that target the genes involved in the creation of steroids were more present in the MS brain samples, which the researchers say indicates lower levels of production of protective or restorative steroids in these patients’ brains.”

We may be experiencing a similar down regulation of allopregnanolone due to these miRNAs. Now, we don’t know exactly why this is happening, and no one here has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and I personally don’t think we have that, or a form of it. We somehow have a down regulation of neurosteroids for whatever reason.

I’m curious if anyone knows how the sexual dysfunction experienced by people with multiple sclerosis relates to the sexual dysfunction of PFS. Is it similar enough that we could related the sexual symptoms to the low allopregnanolone?

#2

I was thinking about how some men are losing their hair again after the use of progesterone. It may be that progesterone cycles are up regulating the 5ar in peripheral tissues, and thus the hair follicles. However, our symptoms may persist because of down regulated 5ar in the brain resulting in the low neurosteroids found. I found an article that says morphine up-regulates 5ar in the brain and thought I would share, seems interesting.

flipper.diff.org/app/pathways/info/1924

“Morphine increases 5alpha-reductase enzyme activity in the central nervous system Rattus norvegicus (finasteride 5mg/kg, chronic finasteride administration effectively blocks development of tolerance and dependence to morphine)”

#3

5α-reductase 1 regulates spinal cord testosterone after morphine administration.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22258359

#4

Does MS give gynecomastia too?

#5

Everything you have posted has been on the forum for years, besides from the knowing that PFSers have low allopregnanolone and presumably allotetrahydroxycorticosterone.

Spstriken, low allopregnanolone via a defect at the 5ar2 could give gyno(T->E instead of T->DHT), Merck will even admit that one.

#6

tim I understand your point but I was talking from MS perspective.

#7

Yes, but it was only just recently that we have confirmation that neurosteroids continue to be low after the discontinuation of finasterde.

Has anyone been on morphine for some other reason post-propecia use? How did it make you feel?