Paradoxical metabolic response of the human brain to a single electroconvulsive shock.
Regional brain protein synthesis was evaluated with positron emission tomography (PET) and L-(S-[11C]methyl)methionine ([11C]MET) in depressive patients, before and 3 h after an electroconvulsive shock (ECS), when energy supply is restored, and in healthy volunteers. Depressive patients presented apparent lower protein synthesis than normals, in agreement with known reduction of cerebral activity. In contrast, ECS resulted in a significant increase (56%, P < 0.05) in global cortical protein synthesis. This paradoxical hyperactivation of cellular protein metabolism in response to seizures and the fact that synaptic activity is further reduced after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), may provide new insights for understanding the mechanism of action of ECT.
Neuropharmacologie Moléculaire, UCBL-CNRS UMR 5542, Faculté de Médecine Laennec, Lyon, France.
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Sermet
M C
MC
Grégoire
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G
Galy
F
F
Lavenne
C
C
Pierre
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L
Veyre
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D
Lebars
L
L
Cinotti
D
D
Comar
J
J
Dalery
P
P
Bobillier
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001831:Body Temperature; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D008715:Methionine