Reduced orexin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of suicidal patients with major depressive disorder.

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Abstract

Orexins are neuropeptides selectively expressed in a small number of neurons in the lateral–posterior hypothalamus. We measured orexin-A in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 66 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia and adjustment disorder after a suicide attempt. Blood samples confirmed that the patients were free from antidepressive and neuroleptic medication at the time of the lumbar punctures. CSF levels of orexin-A were significantly lower in patients with MDD than in patients with adjustment disorder and dysthymia. Orexin correlated significantly with CSF levels of somatostatin, delta sleep inducing peptide-like immunoreactivity (DSIP-LI) and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), but not with leptin or vasopressin. Plasma levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were not reduced in MDD patients, and did not correlate with CSF-orexin. Our results suggest that suicidal patients with MDD have distinct neurobiological features, involving compromised levels of hypothalamic peptides regulating the state of arousal.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)573-579
JournalEuropean Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume17
Issue numberMar 6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Neuronal Survival (013212041), Psychiatry (Lund) (013303000)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Psychiatry

Free keywords

  • Hypocretin
  • Orexin
  • Depression
  • Hypothalamus
  • Suicide
  • CSF

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