Cerebrospinal Fluid Vasopressin—Changes in Depression

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), CSF-vasopressin (AVP), plasma-AVP, CSF-osmolality, plasma-osmolality, CSF-adrenaline (A) and -noradrenaline (NA) were measured in psychiatric patients and controls. Psychiatric patients were classified according to ICD-9 and grouped into endogenous depression, non-endogenous depression, mania and schizophrenia. The depressive groups were classified according to the Newcastle Rating Scale for Depression 1965. Severity of disease was quantified by BRMES, BRMS and BPRS. No difference in CSF-TRH levels was seen among the different diagnostic groups and controls. A positive correlation between CSF-TRH and CSF-A was demonstrated. CSF-AVP concentrations were significantly lowered in both endogenous and non-endogenous depression; no correlation with CSF-A or -NA was seen. Neither did any difference between plasma levels of AVP, plasma-osmolality or CSF-osmolality appear among the groups investigated.

Innovative Approaches for the Treatment of Depression: Targeting the HPA Axis

“…Some studies indicate that there is a correlation between plasma AVP and elevated cortisol levels [77,78], whereas others have shown no alteration in CSF or plasma AVP levels in depressed patients in comparison to control subjects [79,80]. Other investigators have found CSF levels of AVP to be reduced in patients suffering from depression [81]. Plasma AVP concentrations are predominantly influenced by AVP release from the magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamus in response to changes in osmolality, therefore these inconsistencies probably result from the lack of osmotic control in these studies.…”

Cerebrospinal Fluid Vasopressin Levels

“…22 The role of central vasopressin in psychiatry has been investigated in a variety of subjects with mood disorders, dementia of the Alzheimer type, anorexia nervosa, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In depressed patients, the CSF AVP concentration has been reported to be low during the depressed state 37,38 and elevated during the manic state. 39 While this suggests a role for central vasopressin in mood regulation, studies of nondepressed subjects 40,41 do not confirm this.…”

Vasopressin (DDAVP) Therapy in Chronic Schizophrenia: Effects on Negative Symptoms and Memory

“…The concentrations of vasopressin in cerebrospinal fluid have been reported to be normal, increased, or decreased in small samples of acute and chronic schizophrenics [Jose et al, 1979;Hariprasad et al, 1980;Smith and Clark, 1980;Van Kämmen et al, 198 la.b;Sorensen et al, 1985;Gjerris et al, 1985;Beck man et al, 1985;Raskind et al, 1987], Neurophysin I, the hypothalamopituitary carrier of vasopressin, was found to be low [Linkowski et al, 1984], Vasopressin or its derivatives were tentatively admin istered to schizophrenics because of the positive effects observed after neuropeptide administration in patho physiological situations involving alterations of cogni tion, memory, mood and behavior [Gold et al, 1979[Gold et al, , 1980Legros et al, 1980;Beckwith et al. 1982;Prange and Loosen, 1984;Fehm-Wolfsdorf et al, 1984a,b;Van Wimersma Greidanus et al, 1986;Snell, 1987;Laczi et al, 1987], Treatment with Pitressin, lysine vasopressin or desglycinamide-(Argi8)-vasopressin (DDAVP) in schizophrenics produced controversial results.…”