Evaluation of estrogen and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) levels in drug-naïve patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Nilfer Sahin; Hatice Altun; Ergül Belge Kurutaş; Ebru Fındıklı

doi:10.17305/bjbms.2018.2942

Authors

Nilfer Sahin Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey
Hatice Altun Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
Ergül Belge Kurutaş Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
Ebru Fındıklı Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2018.2942

Keywords:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, estrogen, estrogen receptors, GPER, G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1

Abstract

Estrogen has a crucial role in the regulation of reproductive and neuroendocrine function and exerts its effects through two classes of receptors, nuclear and membrane estrogen receptors (mERs). G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER) is a member of mERs, and despite limited research on the levels of GPER in patients with psychiatric diseases, a role of GPER in such conditions has been suggested. Here we evaluated serum estrogen and GPER levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in relation to their age- and gender-matched healthy controls. A total of 82 children were included in the study, 47 drug- naïve patients with ADHD (age: 6–12 years; male/female: 34/13) and 35 healthy controls (age: 6–12 years; male/female: 19/16). The subgroups according to ADHD types were inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combined. Serum estrogen was measured using an immunoassay system, while serum GPER was determined using a commercial sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Estrogen levels in children with ADHD were similar as in control group, while GPER levels were significantly lower in ADHD group compared to controls (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between GPER levels and ADHD (p < 0.05), and no association between estrogen levels and ADHD (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found in GPER and estrogen levels between ADHD subgroups (p > 0.05). To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate estrogen and GPER levels in ADHD. Our preliminary findings suggest a relationship between serum GPER levels and ADHD, and this should be further investigated.

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Author Biographies

Nilfer Sahin, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Hatice Altun, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Ergül Belge Kurutaş, Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey

Department of Biochemistry
Ebru Fındıklı, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey

Department of Psychiatry

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