Corticosteroid-binding globulin in depression.
We undertook this study to evaluate the role of plasma free and total cortisol, and corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) in depression. Plasma was collected from 15 drug-free depressed patients and 15 age and sex-matched control subjects at 0900 and 2300 and at 1600 following an oral dose of dexamethasone. Depressed patients had elevated concentrations of both free and total cortisol at all time points studied. The binding capacity and affinity of plasma CBG for cortisol was similar in both groups at all times studied. No differences in CBG measures were noted if the depressed subjects were divided into elderly or younger subjects and dexamethasone suppression test (DST) suppressors or non-suppressors.
MRC Neurochemical Pathology Unit, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
A
A
Leake
H W
HW
Griffiths
J A
JA
Pascual
I N
IN
Ferrier
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D014156:Transcortin / Q000032:analysis*
D003907:Dexamethasone; D014156:Transcortin; D006854:Hydrocortisone