Effect of psychotropic drugs on excitatory amino acids in patients undergoing psychosurgery for depression.
Samples of ventricular CSF were taken from 52 consecutive patients admitted for psychosurgery for intractable depression. Concentrations of asparagine, aspartate, glutamine, glutamic acid, and serine were determined. Glutamate and aspartate concentrations, implicated in excitotoxic brain damage, were not affected by various types of psychotropic drug treatment. Serine, a modulator of glutamate responses, was significantly elevated in samples from subjects receiving antidepressants. These subjects responded poorly to the operation. Psychotropic drugs are unlikely to be neurotoxic. Nevertheless, antidepressants may influence excitatory neurotransmission.
Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Neurology, London.
M N
MN
Pangalos
A L
AL
Malizia
P T
PT
Francis
S L
SL
Lowe
P H
PH
Bertolucci
A W
AW
Procter
P K
PK
Bridges
J R
JR
Bartlett
D M
DM
Bowen
D000328:Adult; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011612:Psychosurgery; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects*
D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate