Dynamics of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) serum levels in major depressive disorder during antidepressant treatment.
BACKGROUND
In preclinical studies, the hypothalamic polypeptide melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) has been shown to be involved in depression-like behavior and modulations of MCH and MCH-receptors were proposed as potential new antidepressant drug targets.


METHODS
For the first time, MCH serum levels were explored in 30 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) prior to (T1) and after 2 (T2) and 4 weeks (T3) of antidepressant treatment and in 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls by applying a fluorescence immunoassay.


RESULTS
Levels of MCH did not differ significantly between un-medicated patients (444.11±174.63pg/mL SD) and controls (450.68±210.03pg/mL SD). In MDD patients, MCH levels significantly decreased from T1 to T3 (F=4.663; p=0.013). Post-hoc analyses showed that these changes were limited to patients treated with mirtazapine but not escitalopram and female but not male patients. MCH-levels showed high correlations from T1 to T3 (r≥0.964, p<0.001) and were found to correlate significantly with parameters of sleep within the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Small sample size. No follow-up measures were performed within the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest peripheral MCH-levels not to be altered in depression but possibly reflecting depression-related state properties that can be modulated by sleep, medication and sex.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: frank.schmidt2@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
Frank M
FM
Schmidt
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Claudia
C
Nowak
Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Leipzig, Germany.
Juergen
J
Kratzsch
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Christian
C
Sander
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Ulrich
U
Hegerl
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Peter
P
Schönknecht
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000097:blood*; D008803:Mianserin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D015283:Citalopram; D008803:Mianserin; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone; D000078785:Mirtazapine
Depression; Hypothalamus; MCH; Major depressive disorder; Melanin-concentrating hormone; Orexin