Noradrenergic function and the dexamethasone suppression test in depression.
We measured the plasma free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels and the serum cortisol levels before and after the oral administration of dexamethasone. There was not a significant difference in the plasma free MHPG levels between the patients with major depression and normal subjects. There was a significant positive correlation between the plasma MHPG levels and postdexamethasone cortisol levels in patients with major depression. This indicates that there exists a certain relation between abnormalities of the central noradrenergic systems and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with major depression. The mean total scores of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression of the first (MHPG less than 5 ng/ml) and third (10 ng/ml less than or equal to MHPG) groups were significantly higher than those of the second (5 less than or equal to MHPG less than 10 ng/ml) group.
Morinobu
S
S
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan.
Satoh
H
H
Endoh
M
M
Totsuka
S
S
D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006018:Glycols / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D011581:Psychological Tests
D006018:Glycols; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine