beta-Endorphin hypersecretion in depression: possible cholinergic mechanisms.

S C Risch

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PubMed · 6293594

beta-Endorphin hypersecretion in depression: possible cholinergic mechanisms.

S C Risch

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Abstract

Morning plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity were significantly higher in a group of depressed patients meeting the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depressive disorder or Schizo-affective disorder, depressed, than in age- and sex-matched groups of normal controls and psychiatric patients without affective disorders. Furthermore, physostigmine-stimulated release of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity was also significantly greater in the depressed patients. These results provide the first evidence for elevated plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin in depression and also represent further evidence for cholinergic supersensitivity in depression. These results suggest that elevated plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin and cholinergically stimulated hypothalamic-pituitary beta-endorphin release, might potentially represent biological state or trait markers for depression.

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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Depressive Disorder Double-Blind Method Endorphins Humans Physostigmine Psychotic Disorders Random Allocation Receptors, Cholinergic beta-Endorphin Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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S C Risch. 1982. beta-Endorphin hypersecretion in depression: possible cholinergic mechanisms.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6293594/

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