Increased Diurnal Plasma Concentrations of Cortisone in Depressed Patients

Abstract

The enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-beta-HSD) regulates glucocorticoid activity by converting cortisol into cortisone and vice versa. Frequent signs of major depression are elevated concentrations of circulating cortisol and ACTH. However, no information is available about the activity of 11-beta-HSD in this disorder. Therefore, we compared diurnal plasma concentrations of cortisol and cortisone and their ratios, reflecting 11-beta-HSD activity, in 25 severely depressed patients (Hamilton Depression Scale, 29 +/- 6; 14 men, 11 women, age 22-77 yr; mean, 47 +/- 16) and 30 control persons (20 men, 10 women age 23-85 yr; mean, 51 +/- 19). Cortisol and cortisone were measured at 0900 h, 1100 h, 1300 h, 2000 h, 2200 h, 0100 h, 0300 h, and 0700 h with specific RIAs after extraction. Both cortisol and cortisone concentrations were significantly increased in patients compared with controls (cortisol, 251.7 +/- 113.1 vs. 160 +/- 96.6 nmol/L; cortisone, 32.8 +/- 10.9 vs. 21.9 +/- 10.9 nmol/L). The calculated ratios of cortisol to cortisone were similar in controls and patients. Similar to cortisol, the circadian variation of cortisone was flattened in patients with the ratio of maximal cortisone to minimal cortisone being 1.9-fold higher in controls than in patients. There was no gender-specific difference in cortisone values neither in patients nor in controls. We conclude that in major depression increased cortisol is not due, at least partly, to an altered 11-beta-HSD activity or to a decrease in cortisone.

GH in the Central Nervous System: Lessons from the Growth Hormone Receptor Knockout Mouse

“…Elevated T3 levels have been linked to obesity [50], while changes in T3 levels have been associated with depression [51]. On the other hand, high levels of 11-BHSD1 are expressed in areas of the brain known to affect cognition such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and increased levels may play a role in depression [52,53]. Also, local aromatization of testosterone to estrogens in the brain has been implicated in sex specific effects on cognition and higher level functions [54].…”

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis and voluntary running activity: Circadian and dose‐dependent effects

“…It is well established that plasma corticosterone levels rise late in the rest phase of the circadian rest-activity cycle and peak early in the active phase, in both nocturnal and diurnal animals (Ottenweller et al, 1979;Weber et al, 2000;Barriga et al, 2001). Furthermore, corticosterone release appears to be enhanced in association with running at any circadian time (Sellers et al, 1988).…”

Different Relationship Between Anthropometric Markers and Umbilical Cord Plasma Leptin in Asian and Caucasian Neonates

“…Leptin (Linco, St-Charles, MO, U.S.A.; intra-and inter-assay coefficients of variation [CV] Ͻ 7.5% and Ͻ 8.9%, respectively) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAs) (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A., intra-and interassay CV 4.4 -5.3% and 6.3-8.1%) were measured by RIA (RIA) without extraction. Cortisone was measured by RIA after chloroform extraction as described by Weber et al (25).…”