title: Disturbances in dexamethasone suppression test and lower availability of L-tryptophan and tyrosine in early puerperium and in women under contraceptive therapy.
abstract: This study investigates the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis and the availability of L-tryptophan and tyrosine to the brain in postpartum women and in women taking long-term oral contraceptives. To this end, we have measured the following parameters in 50 women (i.e. 9 normal controls, 10 women taking oral contraceptives, and 31 postpartum females): plasma cortisol, L-tryptophan, tyrosine and the amino acids (CAA) known to compete with them for transport through the blood-brain barrier. We have determined the effects of 1 mg of dexamethasone on the above-mentioned biological markers in postpartum females. Plasma cortisol and tyrosine were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in puerperium and in women under contraceptive therapy as opposed to normal controls. L-Tryptophan was significantly lower in postpartum females, whilst the L-tryptophan/CAA ratio did not differ across the three study groups. Postpartum females revealed a significant negative relationship between the availability of L-tryptophan to the brain and postpartum mood, as measured by Zung's Depression and Anxiety Scales and State Anxiety Inventory. Dexamethasone had a significant suppressive effect on L-tryptophan/CAA and tyrosine/CAA ratios, with cortisol nonsuppression appearing in 82% of the postpartum females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Claes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schotte
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delbeke
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jacquemyn
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verkerk
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Meester
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scharpé
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D014443:Tyrosine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014364:Tryptophan; D006854:Hydrocortisone