Decreased sensitivity of 5-HT(1D) receptors in melancholic depression.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: Brain serotonin (5-HT) function is abnormal in major depression, but the involvement of different 5-HT receptor subtypes has been little studied. The availability of selective ligands now makes it possible to test the sensitivity of 5-HT(1D) receptors in patients with depression. AIMS: The aim of the study was to use the 5-HT(1D) receptor agonist, zolmitriptan, to test the sensitivity of 5-HT(1D) receptors in patients with depression before and after treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). METHOD: We measured the growth hormone response to zolmitriptan (5 mg orally) in patients with major depression before and after SSRI treatment. A matched sample of healthy subjects acted as a control group. RESULTS: The growth hormone response to zolmitriptan was blunted in patients with a melancholic depressive syndrome. SSRI treatment produced a marked reduction in zolmitriptan-induced growth hormone release. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with melancholic depression have impaired sensitivity of the post-synaptic 5-HT(1D) receptors that mediate growth hormone release. The reduction in 5-HT(1D) receptor sensitivity following SSRI treatment is probably an adaptive response to increased levels of synaptic 5-HT.

Authors: Whale, R; Clifford, E; Bhagwagar, Z; Cowen, P

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
• Volume: 178
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 454-457
• Publication date: 2001-05-01
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.178.5.454
• EISSN: 1472-1465
• ISSN: 0007-1250
• Language: English
• Keywords: Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors; Serotonin Receptor Agonists; Hydrocortisone; Oxazolidinones; Humans; Adult; Female; Male; Human Growth Hormone; Tryptamines; Depressive Disorder; Middle Aged; Receptors, Serotonin