BACKGROUND: Among the neuroactive steroids, 3alpha,5alpha-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (3alpha,5alpha-THDOC) is at least in part produced in the adrenal gland and is therefore under the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system. The antidepressant mirtazapine has been shown to attenuate HPA axis activity and to increase the concentrations of 3alpha-reduced metabolites of progesterone in depressed patients. In the present study, the impact of mirtazapine on 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC levels was investigated in relation to clinical response in depressed patients. METHOD: A total of 23 drug-free inpatients suffering from a major depressive episode (DSM-IV criteria) underwent 5-week treatment with mirtazapine (45 mg/day). Plasma samples were taken weekly at 08:00 h and were quantified for 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC levels. RESULTS: 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC levels were not correlated with demographic and clinical parameters such as age and severity of depression. Moreover, 5-week treatment with mirtazapine did not influence the 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC in the depressed patients, neither in responders nor in non-responders. CONCLUSION: Putative increasing effects of mirtazapine on 3alpha-reduced neuroactive steroids such as 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC which may be mediated via an impact on the neurosteroidogenic enzyme 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase seem to be counterbalanced by the mirtazapine-induced inhibition of ACTH secretion which directly influences the 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC release of the adrenal cortex.

Schüle, C., Baghai, T., di Michele, F., Eser, D., Pasini, A., Romeo, E., et al. (2010). Mirtazapine does not influence tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone levels in depressed patients, 11(2), 308-313.

Mirtazapine does not influence tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone levels in depressed patients.

PASINI, AUGUSTO;ROMEO, ELENA;
2010-03-01

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Among the neuroactive steroids, 3alpha,5alpha-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (3alpha,5alpha-THDOC) is at least in part produced in the adrenal gland and is therefore under the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system. The antidepressant mirtazapine has been shown to attenuate HPA axis activity and to increase the concentrations of 3alpha-reduced metabolites of progesterone in depressed patients. In the present study, the impact of mirtazapine on 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC levels was investigated in relation to clinical response in depressed patients. METHOD: A total of 23 drug-free inpatients suffering from a major depressive episode (DSM-IV criteria) underwent 5-week treatment with mirtazapine (45 mg/day). Plasma samples were taken weekly at 08:00 h and were quantified for 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC levels. RESULTS: 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC levels were not correlated with demographic and clinical parameters such as age and severity of depression. Moreover, 5-week treatment with mirtazapine did not influence the 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC in the depressed patients, neither in responders nor in non-responders. CONCLUSION: Putative increasing effects of mirtazapine on 3alpha-reduced neuroactive steroids such as 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC which may be mediated via an impact on the neurosteroidogenic enzyme 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase seem to be counterbalanced by the mirtazapine-induced inhibition of ACTH secretion which directly influences the 3alpha,5alpha-THDOC release of the adrenal cortex.
mar-2010
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Sì, ma tipo non specificato
Settore MED/39 - NEUROPSICHIATRIA INFANTILE
Settore BIO/09 - FISIOLOGIA
English
Con Impact Factor ISI
Depressive disorder; humans; neurosteroids; desoxycorticosterone; mirtazapine
Schüle, C., Baghai, T., di Michele, F., Eser, D., Pasini, A., Romeo, E., et al. (2010). Mirtazapine does not influence tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone levels in depressed patients, 11(2), 308-313.
Schüle, C; Baghai, T; di Michele, F; Eser, D; Pasini, A; Romeo, E; Rupprecht, R
Articolo su rivista
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/19833
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