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Growth hormone response in patients with depression
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Supplementum
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Endogenous depressive patients exhibit a reduced growth hormone response to desipramine (DMI), suggesting impaired postsynaptic alpha-adrenergic receptor function in depression. This finding supports the role of these receptors in the condition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Previous research indicated reduced postsynaptic alpha-adrenergic receptor sensitivity in endogenous depressives compared to neurotic depressives and controls.
- This sensitivity was inferred from responses to clonidine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of postsynaptic alpha-adrenergic receptors in depression using desipramine (DMI).
- To further elucidate the neurobiological underpinnings of depression.
Main Methods:
- Administered desipramine (75 mg i.m.) to endogenous depressive patients, neurotic depressive patients, and controls.
- Measured the growth hormone (HGH) response to DMI.
- Investigated the effect of phentolamine (an alpha-blocker) pretreatment on the DMI-induced HGH response.
Main Results:
- Endogenous depressives showed a significantly reduced HGH response to DMI compared to neurotic depressives and controls.
- The HGH response to DMI was blocked by pretreatment with phentolamine.
- This suggests that postsynaptic alpha-receptors are involved in the DMI test.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide further evidence for the involvement of postsynaptic alpha-adrenergic receptors in depression.
- Reduced sensitivity or function of these receptors may be a characteristic of endogenous depression.