Brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma variation during the different phases of the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by a cluster of psychological and somatic symptoms that begin during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and disappear after the onset of menses. Since PMS might be caused by an alteration in the cyclical hormonal modifications and ovarian steroids are directly involved in the regulation of mood, affective and cognitive functions and influence neurotrophins expression, in particular the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), we aimed to evaluate whether plasma BDNF levels in women with PMS differ from those of normally menstruating women without PMS. Sixty-two women were divided into two groups: one group of women (n= 35) with PMS and one group (n= 27) composed by normally menstruating women. Plasma samples were collected at day 7 (follicular phase) and day 21 (luteal phase) of the menstrual cycle. Plasma BDNF of the control group significantly increased (p<0.001) from the follicular phase (402.90 ± 74.41 pg/ml) to the luteal phase (1098.79 ± 146.49 pg/ml). On the other hand, in the PMS group plasma BDNF levels significantly decreased (p< 0.001) from the follicular phase (412.45 ± 78.35 pg/ml) to the luteal phase (233.03 ± 75.46 pg/ml) Luteal BDNF levels of the PMS women were significantly lower than those of the control group (p< 0.001). In women with PMS, plasma BDNF followed a decreasing trend during the ovarian cycle, in opposition to the increasing trend observed in women without PMS. The lower luteal BDNF levels of the PMS women might be a consequence of an altered hormonal response and might play a role in the onset of the symptoms PMS related. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.