Relative activity of metabolic pathways for norepinephrine in endogenous depression.

Abstract

Thirteen patients with endogenous depression, compared to 25 normal controls, had a significantly greater ratio of the urinary excretion of norepinephrine plus its metabolite normetanephrine to either the sum of the two urinary norepinephrine metabolites 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol plus vanillylmandelic acid or to the sum of urinary norepinephrine and all of its metabolites. As urinary levels of norepinephrine and normetanephrine are derived from an extraneuronal metabolic pathway, while levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and vanillylmandelic acid are more representative of total norepinephrine metabolism, these results suggest that there is a shift in endogenous depression to extraneuronal metabolic pathways for norepinephrine and its metabolites.

• Authors: A Roy, M Linnoila, F Karoum, D Pickar
• Journal: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica (Acta Psychiatr Scand) Vol. 73 Issue 6 Pg. 624-8 (Jun 1986) ISSN: 0001-690X [Print] United States
• PMID: 3751666 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Normetanephrine
• Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
• Vanilmandelic Acid
• Norepinephrine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Depressive Disorder (psychology, urine)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol (urine)
• Middle Aged
• Norepinephrine (urine)
• Normetanephrine (urine)
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Vanilmandelic Acid (urine)