Vasopressin in CSF and plasma in depressed suicide attempters: preliminary results.
Increased plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations have been reported in depressed suicide attempters. Plasma AVP is primarily produced by the magnocellular system in response to increased plasma osmolality, and central AVP may be independently regulated. In the present study we investigated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma AVP concentrations in depressed patients and controls. Nineteen drug-free depressed psychiatric inpatients (nine suicide attempters) and nine neurological control subjects underwent lumbar puncture and psychiatric evaluation. CSF and plasma concentrations of AVP, serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and cortisol were assayed. In 15 depressed patients (eight suicide attempters), the combined dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing hormone (Dex/CRH) test was performed to examine the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system. There were no differences between depressed subjects and controls in all parameters measured. Suicide attempters did not differ from nonattempters. In depressed patients, plasma AVP correlated positively with cortisol. There was no relationship between CSF AVP and monoamine metabolites in CSF.
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 2-10, D-80804, Munich, Germany. jBrunner@mpipsykl.mpg.de
Jürgen
J
Brunner
Martin E
ME
Keck
Rainer
R
Landgraf
Manfred
M
Uhr
Christian
C
Namendorf
Thomas
T
Bronisch
D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018738:Hexamethonium / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D018738:Hexamethonium; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D006719:Homovanillic Acid