SULFATION PATHWAYS: The steroid sulfate axis and its relationship to maternal behaviour and mental health.

摘要: Steroid hormones can exist in functionally dissociable sulfated and non-sulfated (free) forms exert profound effects on numerous aspects of mammalian physiology; the ratio free-to-sulfated steroids is governed by antagonistic actions steroid sulfatase (STS) sulfotransferase (SULT) enzymes. Here, I examine evidence from human animal model studies, which suggests that STS its major substrate (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, DHEAS) product (DHEA) influence brain function, behaviour mental health, before summarising how activity this axis varies throughout pregnancy postpartum period. then consider sulfate might impact upon normal maternal dysfunction contribute towards risk psychiatric illness. Understanding biological substrates underlying abnormal will be important for maximising wellbeing new mothers their offspring.