To investigate the effect of ovarian steroids on the brain stem during changes of estrogen and progesterone blood levels, we recorded brain stem auditory evoked potentials with increased stimulus rates from 26 women treated for sterility by menotropins (Pergonal and Metrodin). These women were divided into three groups according to their estrogen and progesterone blood levels. The brain stem auditory evoked potential results revealed a significant delay of peak III only, with an increased stimulus rate in the group with the highest estrogen level. Estrogen may cause a brain stem synaptic impairment, presumably because of ischemic changes, and thus also may be responsible for a higher incidence of Bell's palsy during pregnancy.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
PrattHSomerH.Intensity and rate functions of cochlea and brain stem evoked response to click stimuli in man. Arch Otorhinolaryngol1976;212:85–93.
2.
Ben-DavidJGertnerRPodoshinLFradisMPrattHRabinaA.Auditory brain stem evoked potentials in patients suffering from peripheral facial nerve palsy and diabetes mellitus. J Laryngol Otol1986;100:629–33.
Ben-DavidJPrattHLandmanLFradisMPodoshinLYeshurunD.A comparison of auditory brainstem evoked potentials in hyperlipidemics and normolipemic subjects. Laryngoscope1986;92:186–9.
5.
PodoshinLFradisMBen-DavidJAuditory brainstem evoked potentials in patients with migraine. Headache1987;27:27–9.
6.
VlietELDavisVLNew perspectives on the relationship of hormone changes to affective disorders in the perimenopause. NAACOGS-Clin Iss Perinat Womens Health Nurs1991;2(4):453–71.
7.
FavitAFioreLNicolettiFCanonicoPLEstrogen modulates stimulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis by norepinephrine in rat brain slices. Brain Res1991;555:65–9.
8.
WiebersDOWhisnantJMThe incidence of stroke among pregnant women in Rochester, Minn. 1955 through 1979. JAMA1985; 254: 3055–7.
9.
KerrMGCardiovascular dynamics in pregnancy and labour. Br Med Bull1968;24:19–24.
10.
WaldoMCGrazeKDe GraffBender SAdlerLEFreedmanR.Premenstrual mood changes and gating of the auditory evoked potential. Psychoneuroendocrinology1987;12:35–40.
11.
FordSPReynoldsLPFarleyDBBhatnagarRKVan OrdenDEInteraction of ovarian steroids and periarterial α1-adrenergic receptors in altering uterine blood flow during the estrous cycle of gilts. Am J Obstet Gynecol1984;150:480–4.
12.
HaynesDMMedical complications during pregnancy. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1969: 225–301.
13.
KriegerHPNeurologic complications. In: RovinskyJJGuttmacherAF, eds.: Medical, surgical, and gynecologic complications of pregnancy. 2nd ed.Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1965: 418–52.
14.
HilsingerRLJrAdourKKDotyHEIdiopathic facial paralysis, pregnancy, and the menstrual cycle. Ann Otol1975;84:433–42.
15.
AdourKKSwansonPJJr.Facial paralysis in 403 consecutive patients. Emphasis on treatment response in patients with Bell's palsy. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol1974; 99: 114–7.
16.
HauserWAKarnesWEAnnisJIncidence and prognosis of Bell's palsy in the population of Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo Clin Proc1971;46:258–64.
17.
El-EbiaryHMFacial paralysis: a clinical study of 580 cases. Rheumatol Phys Med1971;11:100–10.
18.
BezjianAASpellacyWNLittleWAIdiopathic Bell's palsy in pregnancy. Florida Medical Association Journal1970;57:25–7.
19.
GerberAHCollinsMJA case of pre-eclampsia with Bell's palsy and concomitant fetal anomalies. Med Ann DC1971;40:317–9.
20.
HilgerJAThe nature of Bell's palsy. Laryngoscope1949;59:228–35.
21.
BluntJMThe possible role of vascular changes in the aetiology of Bell's palsy. J Laryngol Otol1956;70:701–3.
22.
KorczynADBell's palsy and pregnancy. Acta Neurol Scand1971;47:603–7.
23.
MairIWSElverlandHHJohannessenTAIdiopathic facial palsy and pregnancy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1973;82:235–9.
MollerARJannettaPJMollerMBNeural generators of brainstem evoked potentials —results from human intracranial recordings. Ann Otol1981;90:591–6.
26.
UriNSchuchmanJPrattH.Auditory brainstem evoked potentials in Bell's palsy. Arch Otolaryngol1984;110:301–4.
27.
DjupeslandGDegreMSteinRSkredeS.Acute peripheral facial palsy. Part of cranial polineuropathy? Arch Otolaryngol1977;103:641–4.
28.
AoyagiMSuzukiTYokoyamaJSakaiMKirenTKoikeY.Cross-correlation function in the analysis of auditory brainstem response in spinocerebellar degeneration. Audiology1991;30:266–74.
29.
SpersoffLGlassRHKaseNGClinical gynecological endocrinology and infertility, 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1991: 112.
