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Further neuroendocrine evidence of enhanced vasopressin V3 receptor responses in melancholic depression
T G Dinan1, S O'Brien, E Lavelle
1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Ireland.
Background:
In situations of chronic stress vasopressin plays an important role in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of anterior pituitary vasopressin V3 receptors in maintaining the hypercortisolism seen in melancholic depression.
Method:
Fourteen patients with major depression and 14 age- and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects were recruited. Desmopressin (ddAVP) 10 microg was given intravenously and ACTH and cortisol release was monitored for 120 min.
Results:
The mean +/- S.E.M. ACTH response in the depressives was 28.4 +/- 4.3 ng/l and in the healthy subjects was 18.8 +/- 4.9 ng/l (P = 0.04). The mean +/- S.E.M. cortisol response in the depressives was 261.8 +/- 46.5 nmol/l and in the healthy subjects was 107.3 +/- 26.1 nmol/l (P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
Patients with major depression have augmented ACTH and cortisol responses to desmopressin indicating enhanced V3 responsivity.
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