Prolactin response to morphine in depression.
The mean maximum prolactin response following administration of morphine sulfate, 5 mg, i.v., was significantly lower in 15 unmedicated inpatients with major depressive disorder than in 8 normal controls and 11 unmedicated inpatients with other psychiatric diagnoses. The maximum prolactin response of 8/15 depressed patients was less than the lowest response of any of the normal controls. Six of 15 depressed patients had blunted prolactin responses (less than 2 ng/ml) in the 60-minute sample. The diminished increase in serum prolactin after morphine in depressed patients may reflect anterior pituitary dysfunction or abnormalities in central endogenous opioid, dopamine, serotonin, or other neuroregulatory systems.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors
D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D009020:Morphine; D011388:Prolactin