Increased Arginine Vasopressin mRNA Expression in the Human Hypothalamus in Depression: A Preliminary Report

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 esta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychiatry (1969) 2006-10, Vol.60 (8), p.892-895
Main Authors: Meynen, Gerben, Unmehopa, Unga A., van Heerikhuize, Joop J., Hofman, Michel A., Swaab, Dick F., Hoogendijk, Witte J.G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Arginine Vasopressin - biosynthesis
Arginine Vasopressin - genetics
Biological and medical sciences
Depression
Depressive Disorder - metabolism
Female
Humans
hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis
hypothalamus
Hypothalamus - metabolism
In Situ Hybridization
Male
Medical sciences
melancholic type
Middle Aged
Mood disorders
Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus - metabolism
postmortem
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis
Suicide - psychology
Supraoptic Nucleus - metabolism
vasopressin
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Summary: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. 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. 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. We found increased AVP gene expression in the SON in depressed subjects. This might partly explain the observed increased vasopressin levels in depression.
ISSN:0006-3223
1873-2402
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.12.010