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Biochemische Grundlagen der Depression

Biochemical research in depression

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Summary

The biochemical research of depression did not gain in before the exploration of the modes of effect of the antidepressants. For the present the point of research was the search for disturbances in metabolism of the biogenic amines in brain. The noradrenalin and serotonin-hypothesis was propounded postulating a disturbance in noradrenalin, or serotonin regulation, respectively at the receptor in depression. Until now experimental results did not support this hypothesis, just as the investigations of electrolytic changes in depression did not lead to homogeneous results. On the contrary the neuroendocrinological research showed important results: In endogenous depressive patients an increased cortisol-secretion was ascertained, and in about 65% of the patients a missing or strongly reduced cortisol-suppression after injection of dexamethason was noted, moreover, the growth-hormone-secretion after insulin-hypoglycemia is reduced in a part of depressive women in the menopause. Finally the thyrotropin-secretion stopped in 20–40% of the endogenous depressive patients after injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Zusammenfassung

Die biochemische Depressionsforschung gewann erst nach Aufklärung der Wirkungsmechanismen der Antidepressiva an Bedeutung. Der Schwerpunkt der Forschung lag zunächst in der Suche nach Stoffwechselstörungen der biogenen Amine im Gehirn. Es wurde die Noradrenalin- und Serotonin-Hypothese aufgestellt. In ihr wird postuliert, daß bei der Depression eine Noradrenalin- bzw. Serotonin-Regulationsstörung am Rezeptor vorliegt. Durch experimentelle Befunde konnte die Hypothese bis jetzt nicht sicher gestützt werden. Die Untersuchungen über Elektrolytveränderungen bei der Depression führten zu keinen einheitlichen Ergebnissen. Aus der neuroendokrinologischen Forschung gingen dagegen wichtige Befunde hervor: Es wurden bei endogen depressiven Patienten eine erhöhte Cortisol-Sekretion und bei ca. 65% der Patienten eine fehlende oder stark verminderte Cortisol-Suppression nach Injektion von Dexamethason festgestellt. Weiterhin ist die Wachstumshormon-Sekretion nach Insulin-Hypoglykämie bei einem Teil depressive Frauenr in der Postmenopause vermindert und schließlich bleibt bei 20–40% endogen depressiver Patienten die Thyreotropin-Sekretion nach Injektion von Thyreotropin-Releasing Hormon aus.

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  1. Psychiatrische Klinik der Universität München, Germany

    O. Benkert

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Benkert, O. Biochemische Grundlagen der Depression. Klin Wochenschr 57, 651–660 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01477665

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