[Stimulation of somatotropin hormone by piribedil, a dopaminergic agonist, in endogenous depression. Preliminary...

Piribedil, a dopaminergic agonist, was administered intravenously (0.5 mg over 10 minutes) to two unipolar endogenous depressed. The two patients, a 38-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman, were matched for age and sex with two volunteers without any mental illness. Effects of piribedil on plasma levels of growth hormone and on blood pressure were studied. The two volunteers evaluated their "feelings" of anxiety and of physical comfort using visual analogue scales. The experimentation was repeated in a double blind fashion with a placebo. Piribedil induced an elevation of GH in the normal man but not in the depressed man. In contrast, no increase was noted in women. No elevation of GH was observed after placebo. Importance of factors such as depression, sexual steroid environment and influence of stress are discussed.