P.1.042 Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation and dexamethasone suppression tests before and after antidepressant treatment in depressive patients

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. S192
Author(s):  
E. Esel ◽  
S. Kartalci ◽  
M. Kula ◽  
M.T. Turan ◽  
Y. Hacimusalar ◽  
...  
1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. HOWLAND ◽  
D. SONYA ◽  
L. M. SANFORD ◽  
W. M. PALMER

The influence of photoperiod on serum prolactin levels and prolactin release induced by thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) was determined in ewes maintained under the following lighting regimes: Room 1, lighting mimicked natural changes in photoperiod; Room 2, annual photoperiod changes condensed into 6 mo with short days in June; Room 3, same as Room 2 except photoperiod changed abruptly from 16.5 to 8.0 h on 21 Mar. and back to 16.5 h on 21 June; Room 4, constant light. Weekly blood samples were obtained from February to August. Additionally, blood samples were collected before and after treatment with 10 μg TRH on 19 May, 13 June, 27 June and 19 July. Prolactin levels were elevated in ewes exposed to long days or constant light. The mean of all pre-TRH samples was significantly correlated with stress-induced elevations in prolactin (highest pre-TRH value) (r = 0.72) and area under the TRH-induced release curve (r = 0.56). The prolactin release in response to TRH was greatest in ewes exposed to long days or constant light. Abrupt increase of day length elevated pretreatment prolactin levels (P < 0.01) and increased area under the response curve (P < 0.05). Key words: Photoperiod, TRH, prolactin, ewes


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1398-1404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Sher

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis controls the secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), corticotropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH), and cortisol. The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is the most frequently used test to assess HPA system function in psychiatric disorders. Patients who have failed to suppress plasma cortisol secretion, i.e., who escape from the suppressive effect of dexamethasone, have a blunted glucocorticoid receptor response. After CRH became available for clinical studies, the DST was combined with CRH administration. The resulting combined dexamethasone suppression-corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation (DST–CRH) test proved to be more sensitive in detecting HPA system changes than the DST. There is a growing interest in the use of the DEX-CRH test for psychiatric research. The DEX-CRH test has been used to study different psychiatric conditions. Major depression, alcoholism, and suicidal behavior are public health problems around the world. Considerable evidence suggests that HPA dysregulation is involved in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders, alcoholism, and suicidal behavior. Over the past 2 decades, there has been a shift from viewing excessive HPA activity in depression as an epiphenomenon to its having specific effects on symptom formation and cognition. The study of HPA function in depression, alcoholism, and suicidal behavior may yield new understanding of the pathophysiolgy of these conditions, and suggest new approaches for therapeutic interventions. The combined DEX-CRH test may become a useful neuroendocrinological tool for evaluating psychiatric patients.


1983 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey A. Sternbach ◽  
Jan Fleming ◽  
Irl Extein ◽  
A.L.C. Pottash ◽  
Mark S. Gold

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document