title: beta-Endorphin hypersecretion in depression: possible cholinergic mechanisms.
abstract: Morning plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity were significantly higher in a group of depressed patients meeting the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depressive disorder or Schizo-affective disorder, depressed, than in age- and sex-matched groups of normal controls and psychiatric patients without affective disorders. Furthermore, physostigmine-stimulated release of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity was also significantly greater in the depressed patients. These results provide the first evidence for elevated plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin in depression and also represent further evidence for cholinergic supersensitivity in depression. These results suggest that elevated plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin and cholinergically stimulated hypothalamic-pituitary beta-endorphin release, might potentially represent biological state or trait markers for depression.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D011897:Random Allocation; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects*; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; C026718:physostigmine salicylate; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D010830:Physostigmine