Relationship between climacteric symptoms and serum galanin levels in post-menopausal women

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible relationship between climacteric symptoms and serum galanin concentrations in post-menopausal women. Materials and methods: We studied 38 women who attended the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology in Poznan because of climacteric complaints. The control group comprised 16 women [mean age 22.2 yr (SD +/- 0.9 yr), range 18-24 yr] who were menstruating regularly and had normal body mass index. We evaluated the severity of climacteric symptoms using the Kupperman scale and we measured 17beta-estradiol, FSH and galanin serum concentrations by radioimmunoassay. Results: The mean serum galanin concentration was 18.7 pg/ml (SD +/- 16.1 pg/ml) in the study group and 21.9 pg/ml (SD +/- 9.4 pg/ml) in the control group. The difference was not statistically relevant. The mean serum galanin concentration was 15.9 pg/ml (SD +/- 12.6 pg/ml) in the group of patients with mild and moderate climacteric symptoms and 29.5 pg/ml (SD +/- 23.3 pg/ml) in the group of patients with severe climacteric symptoms. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (Student t-test: p < 0.05). Climacteric patients with nervousness had lower serum galanin concentration than patients without this symptom (Student t-test: p < 0.05). Conclusions: a) Serum galanin concentration in postmenopausal women is related to severity of climacteric syndrome; b) the presence of nervousness in post-menopausal women is related to lower serum galanin level. (C) 2004, Editrice Kurtis.