Corticotropin-releasing factor and adrenal function in major depression.
We investigated ACTH and cortisol responses after ovine CRF injection (1 microgram/kg one bolus) in a group of 11 drug-free patients suffering from major depression. When compared to sex- and age-matched normal controls, our depressed patients showed: Higher ACTH basal values (p less than 0.002); higher cortisol basal values (p less than 0.009); blunted ACTH response to oCRF administration (p less than 0.23); higher cortisol response to oCRF (p less than 0.001). Our data show that in depressed patients the feed-back mechanism is functionally intact at the pituitary level on one hand, while on the other, a hyperresponsiveness of adrenal cortex (even to minimal stimuli) seems to be present. Moreover, a hypersecretion of endogenous CRF in these patients seems to be likely.
Nerozzi
D
D
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università di Roma I, Italy.
Bersani
G
G
Melia
E
E
Magnani
A
A
Antonozzi
I
I
Frajese
G
G
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012756:Sheep
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone