The additive effect of allopregnanolone on ghrelin's orexigenic effect in rats.

The progesterone metabolite, allopregnanolone (AlloP), is a GABA receptor modulating steroid and is known to have orexigenic and pro-obesity effects. The neurobiological mechanisms underpinning these effects are most likely due to enhanced GABAergic signaling in the lateral arcuate nucleus (ARC) and medial paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. Inspired by the finding that GABAergic signaling is also important for the orexigenic effects of the circulating hormone, ghrelin, we sought to determine the extent to which AlloP (one of the most potent endogenous GABA-receptor modulators) operates alongside ghrelin to enhance food intake.

Allopregnanolone preferentially induces energy-rich food intake in male Wistar rats.

Obesity is an increasing problem and identification of the driving forces for overeating of energy-rich food is important. Previous studies show that the stress and sex steroid allopregnanolone has a hyperphagic effect on both bland food and palatable food. If allopregnanolone induces a preference for more palatable or for more energy-rich food is not known.