title: Neuropeptide Y in frontal cortex is not altered in major depression.
abstract: Previously, we reported a modest but significant reduction in the concentration of neuropeptide Y in frontal cortices from victims of suicide relative to age-matched natural or accidental death control subjects. The reduction in neuropeptide Y appeared to be greatest in a subgroup of victims of suicide for which there was indirect evidence of histories of depression. We pursued these initial findings in the present study by measuring neuropeptide Y concentrations in frontal cortices from natural or accidental death control subjects and from suicide victims in whom a firm diagnosis of major depression was established by psychiatric autopsy. Because several subjects with major depression had a comorbid diagnosis of alcoholism, a group of victims of suicide that had an Axis I diagnosis of alcohol dependence was also studied. No significant differences in neuropeptide Y concentrations were observed between control subjects and victims of suicide with major depression or victims of suicide with alcohol dependence. These findings do not support a role for neuropeptide Y in major depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, USA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ordway
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stockmeier
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Overholser
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaconetta
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Widdowson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y