Abstract
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity measured with the dexamethasone suppression test and the dexamethesone/CRH test may have some predictive power for suicidal behavior in patients with mood disorders. Increased prolactin (PRL) levels may be related both to physiological and pathological conditions. HPA-axis abnormalities and increased levels of PRL may coexist, and common neuroendocrine changes may activate both HPA axis and PRL release. HPA-axis hyperactivity is presumably present in a large subpopulation of depressed subjects. Suicidal behavior is considered to be a form of inward-directed aggression, and aggressive behavior has been connected to high androgen levels. However, lower plasma total testosterone levels have also been reported in subjects with depression and higher suicidality. Lipid/immune dysregulations, the increased ratio of blood fatty acids, and increased PRL levels may each be associated with the increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which have been reported in patients with major depression and patients engaging in suicidal behavior. Although no studies have been done to determine whether ante-mortem physical stress may be detected by raised post-mortem PRL, this would be of great interest for physicians.
Keywords: Suicidal behavior, stress, prolactin, HPA axis.
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Title:Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis and Prolactin Abnormalities in Suicidal Behavior
Volume: 12 Issue: 7
Author(s): Maurizio Pompili, Gianluca Serafini, Mario Palermo, Maria Elena Seretti, Henry Stefani, Gloria Angeletti, David Lester, Mario Amore and Paolo Girardi
Affiliation:
Keywords: Suicidal behavior, stress, prolactin, HPA axis.
Abstract: Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity measured with the dexamethasone suppression test and the dexamethesone/CRH test may have some predictive power for suicidal behavior in patients with mood disorders. Increased prolactin (PRL) levels may be related both to physiological and pathological conditions. HPA-axis abnormalities and increased levels of PRL may coexist, and common neuroendocrine changes may activate both HPA axis and PRL release. HPA-axis hyperactivity is presumably present in a large subpopulation of depressed subjects. Suicidal behavior is considered to be a form of inward-directed aggression, and aggressive behavior has been connected to high androgen levels. However, lower plasma total testosterone levels have also been reported in subjects with depression and higher suicidality. Lipid/immune dysregulations, the increased ratio of blood fatty acids, and increased PRL levels may each be associated with the increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which have been reported in patients with major depression and patients engaging in suicidal behavior. Although no studies have been done to determine whether ante-mortem physical stress may be detected by raised post-mortem PRL, this would be of great interest for physicians.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Pompili Maurizio, Serafini Gianluca, Palermo Mario, Seretti Elena Maria, Stefani Henry, Angeletti Gloria, Lester David, Amore Mario and Girardi Paolo, Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis and Prolactin Abnormalities in Suicidal Behavior, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2013; 12 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/18715273113129990098
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/18715273113129990098 |
Print ISSN 1871-5273 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1996-3181 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
New Insights in the Mechanism of Bone Loss in Arthritis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Synthetic Cannabinoids as Drugs of Abuse
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Drug Uptake Systems in Liver and Kidney
Current Drug Metabolism Manipulating Kynurenic Acid Levels in the Brain – On the Edge Between Neuroprotection and Cognitive Dysfunction
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Astrocytes as an HIV Reservoir: Mechanism of HIV Infection
Current HIV Research A Case for Innate Immune Effector Mechanisms as Contributors to Disease Resistance in SIV-Infected Sooty Mangabeys
Current HIV Research Cytokine-Purine Interactions in Traumatic Stress, Behavioral Depression,and Sickness
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets ADAM10 as a Therapeutic Target for Cancer and Inflammation
Current Pharmaceutical Design Identifying Novel Antimicrobial Peptides with Therapeutic Potential Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria by Using the SPOT Synthesis
Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry Bombacaceae Between the Ethnomedical Uses and Pharmacological Evidences: A Review
The Natural Products Journal The Induction of Proinflammatory Cytokines in Response to Avian Influenza H5N1 Infections and their Role in Pathogenesis and the Enhancement of Virulence
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Editorial [Hot Topic:Platelets in Inflammation and Inflammatory Disorders Guest Editor: Armen Yuri Gasparyan ]
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Increased Exercise Favorably Modifies Coronary Artery Disease and Peripheral Arterial Disease Outcomes
Current Vascular Pharmacology Editorial (Thematic Issue: Lipidic Nano-carrier Delivery of “Big” Molecules)
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology MicroRNAs in Arterial Remodelling, Inflammation and Atherosclerosis
Current Drug Targets Pharmacogenetics of Phase I and Phase II Drug Metabolism
Current Pharmaceutical Design Preconception Care for Diabetic Women: Background, Barriers, and Strategies for Effective Implementation
Current Diabetes Reviews Epothilones: From Discovery to Clinical Trials
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry MicroRNAs: A Critical Regulator and a Promising Therapeutic and Diagnostic Molecule for Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Current Gene Therapy Targeting Toll-like Receptors in Autoimmunity
Current Drug Targets