HPA-Axis hormones and prolactin responses to dextro-fenfluramine in depressed patients and healthy controls

1. Like other authors we have established disturbances in central serotonergic neurotransmission in severely depressed patients by implementing hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA)-axis hormones and prolactin responses to serotonin agonists or precursors. 2. Challenge probes with D,L fenfluramine ha...

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Veröffentlicht in:Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry 1991, Vol.15 (6), p.781-790
Hauptverfasser: Maes, Michael, D'hondt, Peter, Suy, Eduard, Minner, Bob, Vandervorst, Carine, Raus, Jef
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:1. Like other authors we have established disturbances in central serotonergic neurotransmission in severely depressed patients by implementing hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA)-axis hormones and prolactin responses to serotonin agonists or precursors. 2. Challenge probes with D,L fenfluramine have yielded controversial results. This substance, however, is not as serotonin-selective as previously believed. 3. Dextro(D)-fenfluramine, the dextrorotatory isomer of fenfluramine, constitutes a specific and potent serotonergic agonist. 4. In the present study the authors determined the following in healthy volunteers, and in depressed inpatients: the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), B endorphin, prolactin and cortisol responses to D-fenfluramine administration (45 mg orally), total L-tryptophan and the 8 a.m. postdexamethasone cortisol values. 5. We found no significant differences in any of the post-D-fenfluramine hormone levels across healthy controls, minor, simple major and melancholic depressives. There were no significant correlations between L-tryptophan or postdexamethasone cortisol on the one hand, and any of the post-D-fenfluramine hormone values on the other.
ISSN:0278-5846
1878-4216
DOI:10.1016/0278-5846(91)90007-N