Abstract
Previous studies of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from drug-free, hospitalized patients with endogenous major depression have demonstrated a diminished adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) response to single concentrations of isoproterenol as compared with that obtained from normal control subjects. We now report results of isoproterenol dose-response studies that indicate lower basal levels of cyclic AMP as well as diminished cyclic AMP levels in response to isoproterenol stimulation at concentrations ranging from 10 -10 to 10 -5 mol/L in drug-free, hospitalized patients with endogenous depression. The major factor responsible for the diminished cyclic AMP production in the depressed patients was a loss of receptor sites capable of cyclic AMP production. Taken together with our previously reported finding that β-adrenergic antagonist binding was normal in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from depressed patients, the results of the dose-response studies suggest a loss of receptor function (desensitization) rather than a diminished number of receptor binding sites (down-regulation) as the underlying mechanism. Potential explanations for β-adrenergic desensitization and its implications for the catecholamine hypothesis of depressive disorders are discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 241-244 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Archives of General Psychiatry |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1988 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Psychiatry and Mental health