 |
|
Pituitary and Adrenocortical Responses to the Ovine Corticotropin Releasing Hormone in Depressed Patients and Healthy Volunteers
Jay D. Amsterdam, MD;
Greg Maislin, MS, MA;
Andrew Winokur, MD, PhD;
Mitchell Kling, MD;
Philip Gold, MD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1987;44(9):775-781.
Abstract
| |
• It has been suggested that limbic system-hypothalamic "overdrive" may be the underlying mechanism causing an augmented secretion of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), heightened adrenocortical responsiveness to corticotropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone) (ACTH), and alteration in cortisol feedback regulatory mechanisms as demonstrated by the dexamethasone suppression test. We examined pituitary and adrenocortical responses after morning administration of ovine CRH (oCRH) in 26 depressed patients and 11 healthy volunteers. Basal plasma ACTH concentrations were similar in both groups, whereas patients had a significantly diminished cumulative ACTH response after administration of oCRH. In contrast, basal total cortisol concentrations and cumulative cortisol responses to oCRH were similar in depressed patients and controls. Patients with melancholic features demonstrated the most profound ACTH blunting after oCRH, whereas patients separated according to dexamethasone suppression test results had similar ACTH and cortisol responses to oCRH. The present results extend data from prior studies utilizing oCRH in the evening and demonstrate a dysregulation of the functional integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in depressive illness after a morning oCRH test at both central and peripheral hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis sites.
Author Affiliations
From the Depression Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Drs Amsterdam and Winokur and Mr Maislin); and the Clinical Neuroendocrinology Section, Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md (Drs Kling and Gold).
Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 9, 1987.
Reprint requests to Depression Research Unit, 1 Gibson Bldg, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Dr Amsterdam).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Sex-Related Differences in Stimulated Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis during Induced Gonadal Suppression
Putnam et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2005;90:4224-4231.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor efficacy in severe and melancholic depression
Amsterdam
J Psychopharmacol 1998;12:S99-S111.
ABSTRACT
Diurnal Activity and Pulsatility of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal System in Male Depressed Patients and Healthy Controls
Deuschle et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1997;82:234-238.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Loss of Glucocorticoid Fast Feedback in Depression
Young et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1991;48:693-699.
ABSTRACT
{beta}-Lipotropin--{beta}-Endorphin Response to Low-Dose Ovine Corticotropin Releasing Factor in Endogenous Depression: Preliminary Studies
Young et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1990;47:449-457.
ABSTRACT
Augmented Pituitary Corticotropin Response to a Threshold Dosage of Human Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone in Depressives Pretreated With Metyrapone
Lisansky et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:641-649.
ABSTRACT
Enhanced Adrenocortical Sensitivity to Submaximal Doses of Cosyntropin ({alpha}1-24-Corticotropin) in Depressed Patients
Amsterdam et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:550-554.
ABSTRACT
Corticotropin-releasing factor immunoreactivity in post-mortem brain from depressed suicides
Charlton et al.
J Psychopharmacol 1988;2:13-18.
ABSTRACT
|
