title: Effects of ECT on prolactin, LH, FSH and testosterone in males with major depressive illness.
abstract: Fourteen males with major depressive illness (DSM-III) received a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Serum prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T), were measured 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after each treatment. The severity of depression was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) two to three days before the first and two to three days following the last treatment. Post-ECT levels of PRL and LH were significantly higher than pre-ECT levels across every treatment. Changes in FSH and testosterone were not significant. There were no relationships between hormone levels (first versus last ECT) and severity of depression, including sexual functioning. It is argued that the relatively greater increases of LH than FSH is due to an acute antidopaminergic action of ECT which acts selectively on the secretion of the former. The blunted testosterone response to the increase of gonadotropins may be due to ECT-induced hyperprolactinemia.
authors.affiliation: St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital, London, Ontario.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Velamoor
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Magnus
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cernovsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone