title: ACTH/cortisol involvement in the serotonergic disorder affecting the parkinsonian brain.
abstract: In order to establish whether the serotonergic disorder affecting the parkinsonian brain also modifies hypothalamic-pituitary function in Parkinson's disease, 10 patients (aged 57-66 years) and 10 normal controls (aged 55-69 years) were tested with the serotonergic agonist d,l-fenfluramine (60 mg p.o.), with CRH (100 micrograms i.v.) and with placebos. Plasma ACTH/cortisol levels during tests were evaluated and compared. Both groups showed similar levels of ACTH and cortisol in basal conditions and after placebo administration. A slight physiological decline in both ACTH and cortisol levels during the placebo test was observed in normal controls and parkinsonian patients. CRH induced similar ACTH/cortisol increments in all subjects. In contrast, d,l-fenfluramine significantly increased plasma ACTH/cortisol concentrations in the normal controls, but not in the parkinsonian patients. These data show a defective serotonergic control of the pituitary-adrenal axis in Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Medical Clinic, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Volpi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caffarra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scaglioni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malvezzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saginario
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiodera
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Coiro
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005277:Fenfluramine; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010919:Placebos; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D005277:Fenfluramine; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone