Abstract
The effects of acute administration of different psychotropic drugs on the human hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis were examined in six groups consisting of six healthy male subjects each, compared to placebo. Desimipramine (DMI) (50 mg IV) significantly stimulated ACTH secretion. DMI (25 and 50 mg IV) and chlorimipramine (CI) (25 mg IV), significantly stimulated cortisol, whereas neither sulpiride (100 mg IV) nor diazepam (10 mg IV) significantly affected secretion of cortisol, as compared to placebo. Since DMI primarily inhibits norepinephrine (NE) uptake and CI primarily that of serotonin (5-HT), whereas sulpiride is a dopamine(DA)-receptor blocker and diazepam a GABA-agonistic benzodiazepine derivative, NE and 5-HT uptake-inhibiting antidepressants seem to influence the HPA axis via the central nervous system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alagna S, Masala A (1979) Cortisol secretion following nomifensine administration in normal subjects. Biomedicine [Express] 31:189–191
Besser GM, Butler PWP, Landon J, Rees L (1969) Influence of amphetamines on plasma corticosteroid and growth hormone levels in man. Br Med J 4:528–530
Brown WA, Krieger DT, Van Woert MH, Ambani LL (1974) Dissociation of growth hormone and cortisol release following apomorphine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 38:1127–1130
Bruni G, Dal Pra P, Dotti MT, Segre G (1980) Plasma ACTH and cortisol levels in benzodiazepine treated rats. Pharmacol Res Commun 12:163–175
Butler PWP, Besser GM, Steinberg H (1968) Changes in plasma cortisol induced by dexamphetamine and chlordiazepoxide given alone and in combination in man. J Endocrinol 40:391–392
Carroll BJ, Greden JF, Rubin RT, Haskett E, Feinberg M, Schteingart D (1978) Neurotransmitter mechanisms of neuroendocrine disturbance in depression. Acta Endocrinol [Suppl] (Kbh) 220:14
Cavagnini F, Invitti C, Di Landro A, Tenconi L, Marascini C, Girotti G (1977) Effects of a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivative, baclofen, on growth hormone and prolactin secretion in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 45:579–584
Chabot G, Brisette Y, Gascon AL (1982) Relationship between plasma corticosterone and adrenal epinephrine after diazepam treatment in rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 60:589–896
Chihara K, Kato Y, Maeda K, Mutsukura S, Imura H (1976) Suppression by cyproheptidine of human growth hormone and cortisol secretion during sleep. J Clin Invest 57:1393–1402
Fuxe K, Ögren SO, Everitt BJ, Agnati LF, Eneroth P, Gustafsson JA, Jonsson G, Skett P, Holm AC (1978) The effect of antidepressant drugs of the imipramine type on various monoamine systems and their relation to changes in behaviour and neuroendocrine function. In: Garattini S (ed) Depressive disorders. Schattauer, Stuttgart New York, pp 67–94
Giraud P, Lissitzky JC, Conte-Devolx B, Gillioz P, Oliver CH (1980) Influence of haloperidol on ACTH and β-endorphine secretion in the rat. Eur J Pharmacol 62:215–217
Hall H, Ögren SO (1981) Effects of antidepressant drugs on different receptors in the brain. Eur J Pharmacol 70:393–407
Hyttel J (1982) Citalopram — a pharmacological profile of a specific serotonin uptake inhibitor with antidepressant activity. Prog Neuro-Psychopharmacol Biol Psychiatr 6:277–295
Imura H, Nakai K, Yoshimi T (1973) Effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on growth hormone and ACTH release in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 36:204–206
Jones JB, Hillhouse E, Burden J (1976) Secretion of corticotropin releasing hormone in vitro. Frontiers of neuroendocrinology. Raven, New York, pp 195–226
Jones MT, Brush FR, Neame RLB (1972) Characteristics of fast feedback control of corticotropin release by corticosteroids. J Endocrinol 55:489–497
Laakmann G, Schoen HW, Blaschke D, Wittmann M (1984) Dosedependent growth hormone, prolactin and cortisol stimulation after IV administration of desimipramine in human subjects. Psychoneuroendocrinology (in press)
Lal S, Tolis G, Martin JB, Brown, GM, Guyda H (1975) Effect of clonidine on growth hormone, prolactin, luteinising hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone in the serum of normal man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 41:827–832
Lancranjan J, Ohnhaus E, Girard J (1979) The adrenoceptor control of adrenocorticotropin secretion in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 49:227–230
Macindoe J, Turkington RW (1973) Stimulation of human prolactin secretion by intravenous infusion of l-tryptophan. J Clin Invest 52:1972–1978
Martin JB, Reichlin S, Brown GM (1977) Clinical Neuroendocrinology. Davis, Philadelphia, pp 179–190
Mueller OA, Fink R, Baur X, Ehbauer M, Madler M, Scriba PC (1978) ACTH im Plasma: Extraktion und Bestimmung. GIT-Labormed 2:117–124
Nakai K, Imura H, Yoshimi T, Matsukura S (1973) Adrenergic control mechanism for ACTH secretion in man. Acta Endocrinol (Kbh) 74:263–270
Plonk JW, Bivens CH, Feldman JM (1974) Inhibition of hypoglycemia-induced cortisol secretion by the serotonin antagonist cyproheptidine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 38:836–840
Rees, L, Butler PWP Gösling C, Besser GM (1970) Adrenergic blockade and the corticosteroid and growth hormone responses to methylamphetamine. Nature 228:565–566
Reilly MA, Sigg EB (1982) Suppression of histamine-induced adrenocorticotropic hormone release by antihistamines and antidepressants. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 222:583–588
Sachar EJ, Gruen PH, Altmann N, Halpern, FS, Frantz AG (1976) Use of neuroendocrine techniques in psychopharmacological research. In: Sachar EJ (ed) Hormones, behaviour and psychopathology, Raven, New York, pp 161–176
Simpson GM (1956) Principles and technics of applied mathematics. Wiley, New York
Syvälathi E, Eneroth P, Ross SB (1979) Acute effects of zimelidine and alaproclate, two inhibitors of serotonin uptake, on neuroendocrine function. Psychiatr Res 1:111–120
Wilcox CS, Amiroff AJ, Millar JGB, Keenan J, Kremer M (1975) Circulating levels of corticotrophin and cortisol after infusion of l-dopa, dopamine and noradrenaline in man. Clin Endocrinol 4:191–198
Wirz-Justice A, Puhringer K, Lacoste V, Graw P, Gastpar M (1976) Intravenous l-5-hydroxytryptophan in normal subjects: an interdisciplinary precursor loading study. Pharmakopsychiatr Neuropsychopharmakol 9:277–288
Wittmann M, Laakmann G, Chuang I, Gugath M (1982) Effect of receptor blockers on the chlorimipramine-induced cortisol secretion. Neuroendocrinol Lett 4:208
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Laakmann, G., Wittmann, M., Gugath, M. et al. Effects of psychotropic drugs (desimipramine, chlorimipramine, sulpiride and diazepam) on the human HPA axis. Psychopharmacology 84, 66–70 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432027
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432027