Effect of 5-Hydroxytryptophan on Serum Cortisol Levels in Major Affective Disorders

Meltzer, Herbert Y.; Umberkoman-Wiita, B.; Robertson, Alan; Tricou, Betty Jo; Lowy, Martin T.; Perline, Richard

doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1984.01790150056009

Cited by 190 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Thus, the present results and those of Meltzer et al (1984), Koyama and Meltzer (1986) and Maes et al (1987aMaes et al ( , 1989Maes et al ( , 1990a substantiate the thesis that serotonin precursors activate the HPA axis secretion in melancholic patients in so far as fast and longer-lasting effects on cortisol secretion can be observed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…A major hypothesissoncerning serotonin agonist induced HPA axis hypersecretion in severely depressed patients-is the existence of a supersensitive serotonergic neurotransmission during melancholia (Meltzer et al, 1984). However, Maes et al (1 987) observed greater 5-HTP-induced increases of cortisol levels in major depressed females as opposed to males.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The responsivity of the serotonergic systems can be assessed by means of challenge probes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis hormone responses are measured after loading with serotonin precursors (Meltzer et al, 1984;van Praag et al, 1986;Maes et al, 1987a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By using oral administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) as challenger, some (Imura et al, 1973) but not all authors (Westenberg et al, 1982a,b;Meltzer et al, 1984) observed an increased cortisol secretion in normal controls. Meltzer et al…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Significantly increased urinary free cortisol excretion in melancholic depressed females during L‐tryptophan loading

Maes¹,

Minner²,

Suy³

et al. 1990

Human Psychopharmacology

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To assess the status of serotonergic neurotransmission in depressed females, the authors examined the excretion of free cortisol in 24 h urine both before and after administering 5 g L-tryptophan (L-TRP) orally. The depressed patients were classified according to the DSM-I11 into minor, simple major and major depression with melancholia. We found a significant, enhancing effect for L-TRP on urinary free cortisol (UFC) excretion. The absolute increments in UFC induced by L-TRP were significantly higher in melancholic females as compared to minor and simple major depressives. We found no differences among the DSM-I11 groups in the availability of L-TRP to the brain, 9 h after L-TRP administration.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Significantly increased urinary free cortisol excretion in melancholic depressed females during L‐tryptophan loading

Maes¹,

Minner²,

Suy³

et al. 1990

Human Psychopharmacology

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“…The biological markers of serotonergic function appear to be closely correlated to impulsivity, aggression and violent suicidal behavior across broad diagnostic categories; neuroendocrine challenge tests with 5-hydroxytryptophan [49] or fenfluramine [50; for review see 51] suggest a reduced central serotonergic function in these types of mood disorder which may not be specific but could be related to suicidal behavior. It is generally accepted that the blood-brain barrier singles out the way bioactive molecules are exchanged between the central nervous system (CNS) and the periphery; these findings do not rule out the possibility that receptor sites present in the CNS and periphery share similar properties.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Upregulation of the Platelet Serotonin<sub>2A</sub> Receptor and Low Blood Serotonin in Suicidal Psychiatric Patients

et al. 1998

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Suicidality has been found to be associated with low pre- and postsynaptic serotonin functioning. The purpose of this study was to examine whether in acutely suicidal psychiatric inpatients, the blood serotonin concentration was related to the underlying psychiatric disorder and whether it was associated with changes in the affinity (dissociation constant, K_D) or in the maximal binding capacity (B_max) of the platelet serotonin_2A receptor. We therefore determined the blood serotonin concentrations and the platelet serotonin_2A receptor activities of 45 suicidal psychiatric patients and 20 healthy subjects. We found that the blood serotonin concentrations were significantly lower in suicidal patients compared to healthy subjects. In all diagnostic categories (affective disorder, schizophrenia and adjustment disorder) we noted a significantly higher maximal binding capacity of the platelet serotonin_2A receptor. These findings support the notion that a reduction in the availability of serotonin and an upregulation of the serotonin_2A receptors in psychiatric patients are associated with a loss of control over suicidal impulses.

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