Serotonin dysregulation in adolescents with major depression: hormone response to meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) infusion

This study examined central serotonin disturbance, as reflected by neuroend ocrine hormones, among adolescents with major depression, Prolactin, cortis ol, and growth hormone were measured following the infusion of a serotonin agonist, meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP). Twelve (M = 6, F = 6) medicati on-free adolescents with major depression (MDD) were compared with 12 (M = 6, F = 6) matched normal control subjects, ranging in age from 13 to 17 yea rs. Baseline evaluations and a battery of laboratory tests were completed, mCPP, 0.1 mg/kg i.v., was administered in a placebo-controlled design. Anal yses of the neuroendocrine hormones revealed that the depressed group had a higher baseline prolactin level and an augmented prolactin response to mCP P challenge than did the control group. The depressed group experienced a s harper baseline-cortisol decline between 08.00 and 11.00 h, and compared to control subjects they displayed an augmented response to the challenge. Th e depressed group reported more side effects than the control group during saline infusion, but not during mCPP infusion. Findings suggest that depres sed adolescents have an elevated baseline prolactin level, and also experie nce enhanced prolactin and cortisol responses to the serotonergic challenge . These preliminary findings will be confirmed during our ongoing study. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.