Skip to main content
Log in

Retarded depression and the dopamine metabolism

  • Letters to the Editors
  • Human Pharmacology
  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It was demonstrated that the influence of i.v. administered probenecid on HVA concentration in CSF was less pronounced in a group of retarded depression than in a group of non-retarded depression and a non-depressive control group. The figures corresponded to that found in Parkinson patients.

These findings suggest a decreased consumption of dopamine in the brain in retarded depression. This might be understood as an indication that, disorders of cerebral dopamine metabolism are related not so much to a specific nosological entity as to a given motor status, possibly that of hypokinesia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Literature

  • Bowers, M. B., Jr., Gerbode, F.: CSF 5-HIAA: Effects of probenecid and parachlorophenylalanine. Life Sci. 7, 773 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunney, W. E., Davis, J. M.: Norepinephrine in depressive reactions. Arch. gen. Psychiat. 13, 483 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chase, T. N., Schuur, J. A., Gordon, E. K.: Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine catabolites in drug-induced extrapyramidal disorders. Neuropharmacol. 9, 265 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cotziaz, G. C., Woert, H. M. van, Schiffer, L.: Aromatic amino acids and modification of parkinsonism. New Engl. J. Med. 276, 374 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Curzon, G., Godwin-Austen, R. B., Tomlinson, E. B., Kantamaneni, B. D.: The cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid concentration in patients with Parkinsonism treated with L-Dopa. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 33, 1 (1970).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Everett, G. M., Borcherding, J. W.: L-Dopa: Effect on concentrations of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in brains of mice. Science 168, 849 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Forn, J., Maling, H. M., Gessa, J. L.: Homovanillic and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acids in cerebrospinal fluid after probenecid: Measurement of brain monoamine oxidase inhibition in vivo. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N. Y.) 133, 1310 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, F. K., Brodie, H. K. H., Murphy, D. L., Bunney, W. E.: Administration of a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor with l-Dopa to depressed patients. Lancet 1970 I, 908.

  • Guldberg, H. C.: Metabolism of amines in the brain. Changes in amine metabolite concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid as an index turnover. In: G. Hooper (Ed.). London: MacMillan 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Turner, J. W., Hanich, A., Ashcroft, G. W., Crawford, T. B. B., Perry, W. L. M., Gellingham, F.J.: On the occurrence of homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindole- 3-ylacetic acid in the ventricular CSP of patients suffering from Parkonsonism. Confin. neurol. (Basel) 29, 73 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hornykiewicz, O.: Die topische Lokalisation und das Verhalten von Noradrenalin und Dopamin (3-Hydroxytyramin) in der substantia nigra des normalen und Parkinsonkranken Menschen. Wien. klin. Wschr. 75, 309 (1963).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, B., Roos, B.-E.: 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic and homovanillic acid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy volunteers and patients with Parkinson's syndrome. Life Sci. 6, 1449 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Korf, J., Ottema, S., Veen, I. van der: Fluorimetric determination of homovanillic acid in biological material after isolation on sephadex G 10. Analyt. Biochem. (in press).

  • —, Praag, H. M. van: The intravenous probenecid test: a possible aid in evaluation of the serotonin hypothesis on the pathogenesis of depression. Psychopharmacologia 18, 129 (1970).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neff, N. H., Tozer, T. N., Brodie, B. B.: Application of steady-state kinetics to studies of the transfer of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid from brain to plasma. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 158, 214 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olsson, R., Roos, B.-E.: Concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid after treatment with probenecid in patients with Parkinson's disease. Nature (Lond.) 219, 502 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Praag, H. M. van: Antidepressants, catecholamines and 5-hydroxyindoles. Trends towards a more specific research in the field of antidepressants. Psychiat. Neurol. Neurochir. 70, 219 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —, Korf, J., Puite, J.: 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of depressive patients treated with probenecid. Nature (Lond.) 225, 1259(1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • - - A pilot study of some kinetic aspects of the metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine in depressive patients. Biol. Psychiat. (in press).

  • Schildkraut, J. J.: The catecholamine hypothesis of affective disorders: A review of supporting evidence. Amer. J. Psychiat. 122, 509 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Werdinius, B.: Effect of probenecid on the levels of monoamine metabolites in the rat brain. Acta pharmacol. (Kbh.) 25, 18 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This study was supported by grants from the Netherlands Organization for Pure Research (Z.W.O.).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Praag, H.M., Korf, J. Retarded depression and the dopamine metabolism. Psychopharmacologia 19, 199–203 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402643

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402643

Key-Words

Navigation