High Correlation of Norepinephrine and Its Major Metabolite Excretion Rates

High urinary norepinephrine excretion in major depressive disorders: effects of a new type of MAO inhibitor (Moclobemide, RO 11‐1163)

“…A reduced overall body NE turnover, and a reduction in the levels of the metabolite vanilmandelic acid have been reported by authors studying the effects of clorgyline and phenelzine on urinary excretion of catecholamines (6,29). Globally, our data seem to agree with these previous reports.…”

“…Norepinephrine in the urine is originated in arterial plasma and sympathetic renal nerve terminals (22), and shows a clear relationship with the sympathetic nerve activity (6,23). In accordance with these current interpretations, the increased rates of NE excretion found in major depressives can be considered as indicative of a sympathetic nervous system dysfunction, which might be of central origin.…”

Coexisting dysregulations of both the sympathoadrenal system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis in melancholia

“…The negative results on MHPG are further buttressed by our findings that 24 hr urine MHPG excretion is not significantly related to the catecholamine excretion in 24hr urine flow. This contradicts the results of Linnoila et al (1982) and Roy et al (1988) who found significant and positive relationships between 24 hr urinary excretion of MHPG and noradrenaline in depressed patients and normal controls. These authors, however, did not adjust their MHPG data either for the abovementioned background variables, or for sex.…”

Positive relationship between the catecholaminergic turnover and the DST results in depression

“…Among our depressed patients, urinary outputs of noradrenaline showed significant correlations with the adrenaline and VMA excretion rates. Significant positive correlations between urinary noradrenaline and metabolites were also found by Linnoila et al (1982Linnoila et al ( , 1986, Roy et al (1988), Maas et al (1987 c) and Koslow et al (1983).…”