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More from McMan's on Glucocorticoids and...

Posted by dj on November 8, 2000, at 13:48:46

IT'S NOT ALL IN THE HEAD

Glucocorticoid receptors - get used to the term. Glucocorticoid receptors play an
important role in the HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) responsible for the
production of CRH which leads to releasing the stress hormone cortisol into the
system, whose levels are higher in people with depression. An article in the British
Journal of Psychiatry by Richard McQuade, DPhil, and Allan Young, MRC Psych of the
Stanley European Bipolar Research Center makes a strong case that our knowledge of
endocrinology is growing increasingly more vital in the understanding and treatment of
mood disorders.

According to the article, cortisol is mediated by two types of glucocorticoid
receptors - the high-affinity type I receptor (MR) and the low-affinity type II receptor
(GR). It is thought that MRs control low levels of circulating cortisol while GRs
come into play during circadian and stress-related peaks in cortisol. GR is believed
to play an inhibiting role, which means impaired GR function or decreased receptor
number could account for HPA hyperactivity and more cortisol production, which
contributes to both unipolar and bipolar depression. There is growing evidence that
tricyclic antidepressants and mood stabilizers stimulate certain GR activity in the
brain. Rather surprisingly, the SSRIs tested so far (Prozac and Celexa) do not have this
effect. Although the evidence is less clear, MRs may also be regulated by
antidepressants.

In healthy subjects, the cognitive deficits induced by cortisol are reversible, but
this may not be the case for certain people with mood disorders, suggesting a strong
case for early intervention.
Possible future treatments for depression and bipolar may include the adrenal
steroid DHEA (with antiglucocorticoid properties), steroid synthesis inhibitors, CRH
antagonists, GR agonists, and GR antagonists ( a paradox in light of GR agonists).

Editorial aside: My spell-checker lit up like a Christmas tree doing this piece.

You can check out the article at:
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/177/5/390
< a href="http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/177/5/390" >click here< /a >

.......

DEPRESSION AND HEART DISEASE

Numerous studies have found a correlation between depression and heart disease,
including a very recent John's Hopkins study reported in Newsletter2#39. The problem is
researchers have difficulty finding the smoking gun connecting hormonal or
neurotransmitter activity to cardiac failure. According to a Walter Reed Army Medical Center
study of more than 630 people aged 39 to 45, those who were depressed, anxious, or
hostile had a similar amount of plaque buildup in the blood vessels of the heart as
did those not experiencing these symptoms.

According to a Fox News report of the study, however, the finding may be flawed by
the young age of the people in the study and their relatively good health as Army
personnel.

For more details, please see:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/110200/webmd_feelings.sml
< a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/110200/webmd_feelings.sml" >click here< /a >

ANOTHER DEPRESSION-HEART STUDY

A study published in the American Heart Association's Circulation found those who
developed depressive symptoms were 40 percent more likely to develop cardiovascular
problems. Researchers tracked 4,500 elderly patients with no prior risk of heart
disease.

According to Dr Steven Maoukian, who led the study: "There may be possibilities of
relationships between things like serotonin or adrenaline which might cause changes
in heart rate, blood pressure and the stickiness of clotting cells, of what's called
platelets. All of these tend to interact."

For more details, please see:
http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/10/09/mood.heart/index.html
< a href="http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/10/09/mood.heart/index.html" >click here< /a >

.........

SUITE101.COM

You can check out my more than 80 articles covering depression, bipolar, and mental
health, plus back issues of this Newsletter, at:

http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/depression
< a href="http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/depression" >click here< /a >


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poster:dj thread:48443
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