title: Increased arginine vasopressin mRNA expression in the human hypothalamus in depression: A preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated arginine vasopressin (AVP) plasma levels have been observed in major depression, particularly in relation to the melancholic subtype. Two hypothalamic structures produce plasma vasopressin: the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). The aim of this study was to establish which structure is responsible for the increased vasopressin plasma levels in depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using in situ hybridization, we determined the amount of vasopressin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the PVN and SON in postmortem brain tissue of nine depressed subjects (six with the melancholic subtype) and eight control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the SON, a 60% increase of vasopressin mRNA expression was found in depressed compared with control subjects. In the melancholic subgroup, AVP mRNA expression was significantly increased in both the SON and the PVN compared with control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found increased AVP gene expression in the SON in depressed subjects. This might partly explain the observed increased vasopressin levels in depression.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center and Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg Buitenamstel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. g.meynen@nih.knaw.nl
authors.forename: Gerben
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meynen
authors.forename: Unga A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Unmehopa
authors.forename: Joop J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Heerikhuize
authors.forename: Michel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Dick F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Swaab
authors.forename: Witte J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hoogendijk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin