title: Peptide-containing fractions in depression.
abstract: A mixture of peptides and glycoproteins has been found in benzoic acid-precipitable material from urines of psychomotorically agitated and retarded endogenous depressive patients. This complex mixture of compounds is fractionated on a Sephadex G-25 gel, from which the different peaks are further separated on Biogel P2. The G-25 elution profiles ultraviolet absorbance, 280 nm) from depressive patients deviated from the normal pattern. The increase in hydrolyzable ninhydrin-colorable material of the P2 fractionation step encountered in psychotic depression was several-fold that of the normal population. Neurochemically active peptide-containing fractions were found. As explanation of these findings, it is probable that a genetically determined peptidase insufficiency is present, causing a peptide overflow when the secretion outstrips the breakdown. This model could easily combine more psychodynamic models with the genetic-biological models. The variability of the peptide patterns could possibly reflect the considerable clinical variability of the syndrome. Furthermore, the presence of a group of active compounds with different neuropharmacological activities might reflect the composite nature of the depressive syndrome.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine; D001565:Benzoates / Q000652:urine; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000652:urine; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine*; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001565:Benzoates; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D019817:Benzoic Acid