Cortisol secretion and urinary MHPG in unipolar depression.
The authors examined the relationship between both pre-dexamethasone 8:00 AM serum cortisol level and the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) with urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG) excretion in a group of fifteen men and fourteen women with unipolar depression. No significant difference was found between the mean MHPG excretion for either male or female DST suppressors or non-suppressors. No significant correlation was found between the pre-dexamethasone 8:00 AM serum cortisol level and urinary MHPG. These results do not support the hypothesis that DST non-suppression in depression is related to central noradrenergic deficiency.
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006018:Glycols / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000172:deficiency
D006018:Glycols; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine