Abstract
To assess the effect of desipramine (DMI) on corticotropin-releasing-factor (CRF) activity in the central nervous system, we measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of CRF in healthy volunteers following short-term administration of DMI or placebo. DMI administration for 2 days was associated with a significant dose-related reduction in CRF concentrations. There was a nonsignificant 6% reduction in CRF concentrations among the 10 subjects who received 50 mg DMI (△ CRF: -3±2 pg/ml) and a significant 14% fall in the CRF concentrations of the eight subjects who received 100 mg DMI (△ CRF: -8±3 pg/ml). The mean CSF concentration of CRF was unchanged in the six subjects randomized to placebo (△ CRF: 1±5 pg/ml). DMI administration had no effect on CSF norepinephrine concentrations (n = 24) or on plasma cortisol (n = 25). We conclude that short-term administration of DMI in healthy volunteers is associated with a dose-related reduction in CSF concentrations of CRF.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-8 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Psychiatry Research |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1993 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- cortisol
- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
- Norepinephrine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
- Psychology(all)