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 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), beta 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.
Maes
M
M
Psychiatric Centre, St Jozef, Munsterbilzen, Belgium.
D'Hondt
P
P
Suy
E
E
Minner
B
B
Vandervorst
C
C
Raus
J
J
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
D004723:Endorphins; D006728:Hormones; D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014364:Tryptophan; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin