Whole Blood 5-Hydroxytryptamine during Treatment of Endogenous Depressive Illness

Abstract

In the course of a study on endogenous depressive illness, whole blood 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) has been recorded in sixteen in-patients at Roffey Park Hospital. Thirteen patients received L-tryptophan 1 G t.d.s. and 3 G nocte, of whom two received in addition phenelzine 15 mg. b.d. for 48 hours followed by 30 mg. b.d. thereafter. Three patients received amitriptyline 25 mg. b.d. and 50 mg. nocte for 48 hours followed by 50 mg. b.d. and 75 mg. nocte thereafter. One patient receiving Ltryptophan had essential hypertension and received α-methylDOPA throughout. Observation continued for six weeks.

Platelet monoamine uptake in depression—a primary or secondary phenomenon?

“…Equally intriguing have been changes in pharmacological response demonstrated in isolated cells or subcellular fragments such as platelets. Reduced levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) in serum or in whole blood from depressed patients were reported by Sarai and Kayano (1968), Gayford et al (1973) and Coppen et af. (1976).…”

Theoretical and Therapeutic Potential of Indoleamine Precursors in Affective Disorders

“…The latter biochemical observation may be relevant to the efficacy of precursors in these patients. By analogy with animal experiments, where the addition of MAO inhibitors to /,-TP orL-5HTP produces a character istic behavioural syndrome (36), the use of MAO inhibitors in man potentiates the antidepressant effect of these precursors (15,31,51). It could be speculated that the low MAO activity endogenous to bipolar patients corresponds to a situation that might be achieved with low doses of MAO inhibitors, effectively potentiating the antidepressant effect of precursors by allowing a greater func tional release of 5HT.…”

“…(1) Where conjoint application with MAO inhibitors was attempted, the improvement after ¿-TP was potentiated (15,31), as was the case of ¿-TP combined with chlorimipramine (99).…”