Friedhelm Lamprecht1, Michael H. Ebert1, Ibrahim Turek1, 2 and Irwin J. Kopin1
| (1) | Laboratory of Clinical Science, NIMH, 20014 Bethesda, Maryland |
| (2) | Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Catonsville, Maryland |
Received: 18 June 1974
Abstract Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was studied in unipolar and bipolar depressed patients who were free of medication and in normal controls. No significant difference was found. A second group of depressed patients were studied during a course of electroconvulsive shock treatment (ECT). A small, but significant, increase in DBH activity was found 5 min after a single modified convulsion, suggesting release of DBH into the circulation. Also a small, but significant, increase in the baseline level of DBH activity was found at the ninth treatment compared to the first treatment. A single electroconvulsive shock administered to rats produced a significant elevation of both plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine at 1 and 5 min post convulsion and a significant, but smaller, elevation of plasma DBH at 5 min post convulsion in adrenalectomized rats.
Key words Electroconvulsive Shock Treatment - Serum Dopamine-Beta-Hydroxylase - Depression - Catecholamines - Sympathetic Nervous System
Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase in depressed patients and the effect of electroconvulsive shock treatment
| Journal | Psychopharmacology |
| Publisher | Springer Berlin / Heidelberg |
| ISSN | 0033-3158 (Print) 1432-2072 (Online) |
| Issue | Volume 40, Number 3 / September, 1974 |