Noradrenaline uptake inhibition increases melatonin secretion, a measure of noradrenergic neurotransmission, in depressed patients.
Eight patients with endogenous depression who had received no antidepressant treatment for the previous year were treated with the noradrenaline (NA) uptake inhibitor, desipramine (DMI). Pre-treatment plasma melatonin concentrations were normal. After one day of DMI treatment plasma melatonin concentrations were increased but the response was impaired compared to normal subjects. The acute effect of DMI on plasma melatonin persisted after six weeks of treatment. These findings question the hypothesis that beta adrenoceptors are supersensitive in depression and that antidepressant drugs act by down-regulating these receptors.
Palazidou
E
E
Department of Psychiatry, New Cross Hospital, London.
Papadopoulos
A
A
Ratcliff
H
H
Dawling
S
S
Checkley
S A
SA
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D008550:Melatonin; D003891:Desipramine; D009638:Norepinephrine