title: AVP- and OT-neurophysins response to apomorphine and clonidine in major depression.
abstract: A number of studies have reported abnormalities of neurohypophyseal secretions in major depressive disorder. The purpose of the present study was to test the influence of apomorphine and clonidine injections on plasma vasopressin (AVP)-neurophysins and oxytocin(OT)-neurophysins levels, as direct index of posterior pituitary activation in major depression. Apomorphine and clonidine tests were carried out in 25 medication-free depressive patients and 25 age and gender-matched healthy controls. Blood for neurophysins analysis was drawn by venipuncture at t0, t + 20, t + 40, t + 60 and t + 120. Baseline AVP-neurophysins concentrations were significantly lower in depressives (0.12 +/- 0.14 ng/ml) than in healthy subjects (0.24 +/- 2.15 ng/ml) (p < 0.04). The response to apomorphine test revealed a significant reduced response at 20 (p = 0.01), 40 (p = 0.007) and 60 (p = 0.02) and 120 (p = 0.02)min. Following clonidine test, post hoc tests also revealed a significant decrease at 0 (p = 0.04), 20 (p = 0.01), 40 (p = 0.007) and 60 (p = 0.02) and 120 (p = 0.006)min. Concerning OT-neurophysins, no significant differences were found between depressed and controls in response to clonidine or apomorphine injections. Following clonidine and apomorphine, major depressives exhibited a significantly lower peak GH response than controls. The study supports partially the hypothesis of a reduced vasopressinergic activity in depression. Moreover, we did not find any influence of acute apomorphine or clonidine injections on vasopressin-neurophysin or oxytocin-neurophysin in depressive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychoneuroendocrinology Unit, CHU of Liège, Belgium. gabrielle.scantamburlo@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scantamburlo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hansenne
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pitchot
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reggers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansseau
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Legros
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009481:Neurophysins / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D009481:Neurophysins; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D010121:Oxytocin; D003000:Clonidine; D001058:Apomorphine