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Updated: Oct 1, 2026

BS3 Chemical Crosslinking Assay: Evaluating the Effect of Chronic Stress on Cell Surface GABAA Receptor Presentation in the Rodent Brain
Published on: May 26, 2023
Elevated circulatory level of GABA(A)--antagonistic neurosteroids in patients with combat-related post-traumatic
Background:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a multisystem neurobiological disorder with chronic alterations in various neurochemical systems. Levels of the GABA(A)--antagonistic neurosteroids plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate derivate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) may be relevant to depressive and anxiety disorders, including PTSD.
Methods:
We assessed the circulatory levels of morning plasma DHEA and DHEAS in 21 male outpatients with untreated chronic combat-related PTSD (CR-PTSD), and 18 healthy control male subjects.
Results:
Compared with the control subjects, the PTSD patients showed significantly higher plasma DHEA and DHEAS levels.
Conclusions:
Chronic CR-PTSD may be associated with increased circulatory level of neuroactive steroids with inhibitory activity at the GABA(A) receptors. Neurosteroid-induced decreased GABAergic tone may be relevant to the symptomatology and pathophysiology of chronic PTSD, as well as to the frequent co-morbidity of PTSD with depression and anxiety disorders.
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