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Dose-Response Studies With Protirelin
James C. Garbutt, MD;
James P. Mayo, MD;
Karley Y. Little, MD;
Gregory M. Gillette, MD;
George A. Mason, PhD;
Bess Dew, RN;
Arthur J. Prange, Jr, MD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994;51(11):875-883.
Abstract
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Background
A reduced thyrotropin (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (protirelin [TRH]) has been found consistently in a portion of patients with major depression. One hypothesis to explain this observation is that pituitary TRH receptors are downregulated in major depression. One prediction stemming from this hypothesis is that prolactin (PRL) as well as TSH responses to TRH should be attenuated. To adequately test the pattern of protirelin-induced TSH and PRL responses with a protirelin doseresponse design is necessary.
Methods
Four doses of protirelin (25, 100, 500, and 800 µg) were infused in an ascending schedule at intervals of 3 to 7 days in patients with major depression and in control subjects. Seven women and six men with major depression were compared with ageand gender-matched controls (five women and seven men). The TSH and PRL responses were measured at regular intervals following each dose of protirelin.
Results
No significant group differences in baseline levels of thyroid hormones or cortisol were present. Depressed men exhibited significant reductions in both TSH and PRL responses to protirelin across all doses compared with control men. Depressed women exhibited significant reductions in TSH responses but not in PRL responses compared with control women.
Conclusions
The findings that men with major depression exhibit reductions in both protirelin-induced TSH and PRL responses support the hypothesis that TRH receptors are downregulated in depression. The findings in women are less clear and may represent the greater variance in the protirelin-induced PRL responses found in women.
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychiatry (Drs Garbutt, Mayo, Little, Mason, and Prange) and the Brain and Development Research Center (Drs Mason and Prange), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; the Clinical Research Unit (Drs Garbutt, Mayo, Little, and Prange and Ms Dew), Dorothea Dix Hospital, Raleigh, NC; and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas, Little Rock (Dr Gillette).
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