Further neuroendocrine evidence of enhanced vasopressin V 3 receptor responses in melancholic depression

Background. In situations of chronic stress vasopressin plays an important role in regulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of anterior pituitary vasopressin V 3 receptors in maintaining the hypercortisolism seen in melancholic depr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological medicine 2004-01, Vol.34 (1), p.169-172
Main Authors: DINAN, T. G., O'BRIEN, S., LAVELLE, E., SCOTT, L. V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background. In situations of chronic stress vasopressin plays an important role in regulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of anterior pituitary vasopressin V 3 receptors in maintaining the hypercortisolism seen in melancholic depression. Method. Fourteen patients with major depression and 14 age- and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects were recruited. Desmopressin (ddAVP) 10 μg was given intravenously and ACTH and cortisol release was monitored for 120 min. Results. The mean± S . E . M . ACTH response in the depressives was 28·4±4·3 ng/l and in the healthy subjects was 18·8±4·9 ng/l ( P =0·04). The mean± S . E . M . cortisol response in the depressives was 261·8±46·5 nmol/l and in the healthy subjects was 107·3±26·1 nmol/l ( P
ISSN:0033-2917
1469-8978
DOI:10.1017/S0033291703001004