Prolactin but not ACTH increases during sodium lactate-induced panic attacks.
Paradoxically, the pituitary-adrenal axis is not activated during sodium lactate-induced panic. We measured the response of another stress-sensitive hormone, prolactin, to standard lactate and placebo infusion in a double-blind randomised design in eight patients with panic disorder and eight matched normal controls. Prolactin release was significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in panickers compared with non-panickers, whereas ACTH secretion was not activated at all. This differential stress response needs further investigation.
Otte
Christian
C
University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Germany. otte@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Kellner
Michael
M
Arlt
Josef
J
Jahn
Holger
H
Holsboer
Florian
F
Wiedemann
Klaus
K
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D019354:Sodium Lactate
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D019354:Sodium Lactate