Ouabain-sensitive sodium and potassium fluxes in red blood cells of patients with endogenous depressive syndromes.
Ouabain-sensitive cation fluxes in red blood cells were measured in 23 patients with endogenous depressive syndromes during acute phase of the illness and during remission period as well as in 17 healthy subjects. The intensities of both sodium and potassium net fluxes during depressive phase were significantly lower than during remission both in patients with depression in the course of manic-depressive psychosis and in patients with unipolar depression. They were also lower than the intensities of fluxes found in control subjects. The values of female patients in remission did not differ from those of control females, while male patients had higher values in remission than control males. It is hypothesized that impaired activity of cation transport may be related to somatic and psychopathologic symptoms of depression and its stimulation may play a role in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs.
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*
D010042:Ouabain; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium