The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 1975 · 266 citations · 0 references
MedicineEndocrinologyPsychiatryHormone BiochemistryNeuroendocrinologyPsychopharmacologyGrowth HormoneHormone ReleaseHypothalamic-pituitary RegulationPituitary DisordersPituitary Gland FunctionPituitary HormonesGrowth Hormone FunctionGrowth Hormone-releasing Hormone Effects On ProlactinHypothalamic Regulation Of ProlactinHypothalamic-pituitary DisordersPituitary Hormone FunctionProlactin FunctionThyrotropin SecretionThyrotropin-releasing Hormone Regulation
The effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the release of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and thyrotropin (TSH) were investigated in patients with depression. Intravenous injection of synthetic TRH (500 mug) caused a significant increase in plasma GH (peak value: 7.7 minus 35.0 ng/ml) in 8 of 13 patients with mental depression. After clinical recovery these patients had no response of plasma GH to TRH. TRH administration did not raise plasma GH in normal subjects examined. Plasma PRL responses to TRH were significantly enchanced (P smaller than 0.05) in depressed patients compared with control subjects. Plasma TSH responses to TRH were significantly blunted in patients with depression (P smaller than 0.05). These results suggest disorders in the hypothalamo-pituitary function in depression.