Size and time of hormone responses to serotonergic and noradrenergic challenge tests as related to facets of depression

This paper presents a discussion of principles and problems of neurotransmitter challenge tests using examples of experiments, most of which were performed in the author's laboratory. Drugs targeting synthesis, release, receptors or reuptake of dopamine, serotonin and noradrenergic transmitter (TM) systems were used for characterizing or discriminating certain temperament or personality traits and their sub-factors. Any personality or temperament trait is characterized by multiple TM responses, thus constellations of hormone responses to drugs acting on different TM systems or on different sources of TM activity were investigated within individuals in crossover designs. The major conclusions are: (i) intra-individual patterns of hormone responses to different TM-related drugs, or to agonists and antagonists, can help to discriminate subtypes of temperament dimensions, and (ii) the latency and shape of response curves may help specify processes of biological responses related to psychological dimensions and reveal common TM sensitivities in clusters of traits. TM sensitivity, defined by hormone responses, does not always correspond to accompanying behavioural indicators, but may provide more specific information on underlying mechanisms. Additional consideration of drug doses and experimental induction of stressors may serve to identify temperament-related susceptibilities to certain drugs. Limitations of the challenge approach and recommendations for future research are discussed. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Diverse perspectives on diversity: multi-disciplinary approaches to taxonomies of individual differences’.

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Serotonin und Persönlichkeit

Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie ◽

10.1024//0170-1789.21.3.226 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 226-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jürgen Hennig

Keyword(s):

Challenge Tests ◽

Diagnostische Methoden

Zusammenfassung: Es werden kurz drei wichtige Persönlichkeitstheorien vorgestellt, die die Beteiligung des serotonergen Neurotransmittersystems an der Ausprägung dispositioneller Merkmale auf der Ebene von Temperamentseigenschaften konstatieren. Der vorliegende Beitrag fasst die zentralen Befunde zusammen. Zunächst wird jedoch beschrieben, über welche Charakteristika das serotonerge Neurotransmittersystem verfügt, und welche Schwierigkeiten sich hinsichtlich der Messung von Indikatoren serotonerger Aktivität bzw. Ansprechbarkeit ergeben. Basierend auf einigen ausgewählten Befunden aus dem Bereich der biologischen Psychiatrie wird dann dargestellt, dass sich serotonerge Auffälligkeiten klinischer Populationen durchaus in den Bereich der gesunden Persönlichkeit übertragen lassen. Konkreter wird gezeigt, dass sich Personen mit erhöhter Ausprägung auf den Dimensionen Depressivität, Aggressivität und Impulsivität über eine geringe Ansprechbarkeit des serotonergen Systems im Zuge des so genannten Neurotransmitter-Challenge-Tests charakterisieren lassen. Implikationen für ein Verständnis der zugrundeliegenden Mechanismen interindividueller Differenzen und Implikationen für ggfs. veränderte diagnostische Methoden werden diskutiert.

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Are food and nicotine craving mediated by the same transmitter related drug and respective hormone responses?

Pharmacopsychiatry ◽

10.1055/s-0029-1240184 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 42 (05) ◽

Author(s):

P Netter ◽

C Toll ◽

A Siegmund ◽

T Birkenbach-Holdschuh ◽

C Lujic

Keyword(s):

Related Drug ◽

Hormone Responses

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Aripiprazole has both agonistic and antagonistic effects on the dopaminergic system in endocrinological challenge tests

Pharmacopsychiatry ◽

10.1055/s-2007-991785 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 40 (05) ◽

Author(s):

C Schüle ◽

AK Schmidt ◽

TC Baghai ◽

D Eser ◽

S Wenninger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dopaminergic System ◽

Antagonistic Effects ◽

Challenge Tests

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GROWTH HORMONE RESPONSES TO FRUCTOSE IN DIABETES MELLITUS

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0750497 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 497-502

Author(s):

Mayer B. Davidson ◽

Roger M. Steele

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Growth Hormone ◽

Fasting Glucose ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Oral Glucose ◽

Gh Secretion ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Duration Of Disease ◽

Hormone Responses

ABSTRACT Since fructose is normally metabolized in diabetics and has recently been shown to stimulate GH secretion, it was used to assess GH responses in diabetics. Fourteen diabetics (9 on insulin) and 8 controls matched for weight were studied. Fructose, infused over 10 min, was compared to arginine, infused over 30 min, both at 0.5 g/kg. Samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min and GH responses assessed as area under the curve minus the fasting area. There was no significant difference between the GH responses in diabetics and controls to either agent. Responses to arginine and fructose were significantly correlated (r = 0.60, P < 0.01) in all subjects, but not related to therapy, duration of disease or fasting glucose (75–287 mg/100 ml) in the diabetics. Oral glucose blunted the GH response to fructose in 2 controls. It is concluded that 1) fructose can stimulate GH secretion in male diabetics; 2) however, fructose-stimulated GH responses are not increased in diabetes mellitus.

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