Abstract
In depressions, varying therapeutic effects have been obtained with 5-HT precursors. This is possibly due to the fact that the group of the depressions is pathogenetically heterogeneous; that, specifically, some types do and other types do not entail disturbances in the central 5-HT metabolism; and that only the former types are “precursor-sensitive”. This hypothesis was tested in a preliminary pilot study, and confirmed. The central 5-HT consumption was assessed on the basis of the probenecid test. In this experiment, 5-HTP was for the first time given in large doses over a considerable period of time.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashcroft, G. W., Crawford, T. B. B., Eccleston, D., Sharman, D. F., Mac- Dougall, E. J., Stanton, J. B., Binns, J. K.: 5-Hydroxyindole compounds in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with psychiatric or neurological diseases. Lancet 1966 II, 1049.
Bourne, H. R., Bunney, W. E., Colburn, R. W., Davis, J. M., Davis, J. N., Shaw, D. M., Coppen, A. J.: Noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxy indoleacetic acid in hind brains of suicidal patients. Lancet 1968 II, 805.
Carroll, B. J., Mowbray, R. M., Davies, B.: Sequential comparison of l-tryptophan with E.C.T. in severe depression. Lancet 1970 I, 967.
Coppen, A., Shaw, D. M., Farrel, J. P.: Potentiation of the antidepressive effect of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor by tryptophan. Lancet 1963 I, 79.
—, Herzberg, B., Maggs, R.: Tryptophan in the treatment of depression. Lancet 1967 II, 1178.
Kline, N. S., Sacks, W., Simpson, G. M.: Further studies on: one day treatment of depression with 5-HTP. Amer. J. Psychiat. 121, 379 (1964).
Korf, J., Praag, H. M. van: Amine metabolism in the human brain: further evaluation of the probenecid test. Brain Res. 35, 221 (1971).
—, Sebens, J. B.: Effect of intravenously administered probenecid in humans on the levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol in cerebrospinal fluid. Biochem. Pharmacol. 20, 659 (1971).
Lakke, J. P. W. F., Korf, J., Praag, H. M. van, Schut, T.: The predictive value of the probenecid test for the effect of levodopa therapy in Parkinson disease. Nature (Lond.) (in press).
Pare, C. M. B., Sandler, M. J.: Clinical and biochemical study of a trial of iproniazid in the treatment of depression. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 22, 247 (1959).
—, Yeung, D. P. H., Price, K., Stacey, R. S.: 5-Hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline and dopamine in brainstem, hypothalamus, and caudate nucleus of controls and of patients committing suicide by coal-gas poisoning. Lancet 1969 II, 133.
Persson, T., Roos, B.-E.: 5-Hydroxytryptophan for depression. Lancet 1967 II, 987.
Praag, H. M. van: A critical investigation into the possible significance of monoamine oxidase inhibition as the therapeutic principle in the treatment of depressions. Thesis, Utrecht 1962.
—, Korf, J.: A pilot study of some kinetic aspects of the metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine in depressive patients. Biol. Psychiat. 3, 105 (1971).
—: Endogenous depressions with and without disturbances in the 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism: a biochemical classification? Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 19, 148 (1971).
—, Puite, J.: The influence of probenecid on the concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid in depressive patients. Nature (Lond.) 225, 1259 (1970).
Roos, B.-E., Sjöström, R.: 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (and homovanillic acid) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid after probenecid application in patients with manic-depressive psychosis. Pharmacol. Clin. 1, 153 (1969).
Shaw, D. M., Camps, F. E., Eccleston, E. C.: 5-Hydroxytryptamine in the hind brain of depressive suicides. Brit. J. Psychiat. 113, 1407 (1967).
Tamarkin, N. R., Goodwin, F. K., Axelrod, J.: Rapid elevation of biogenic amine metabolites in human CSF following probenecid. Life Sci. 9, 1397 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by grants from the Netherlands Organization for Pure Research (Z.W.O.), the “Preventie Fonds” and the Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories (U.S.A.).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Praag, H.M., Korf, J., Dols, L.C.W. et al. A pilot study of the predictive value of the probenecid test in application of 5-hydroxytryptophan as antidepressant. Psychopharmacologia 25, 14–21 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422612
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422612