Price L H, Charney D S, Delgado P L, Goodman W K, Krystal J H, Woods S W, Heninger G R
Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1990 Apr;51 Suppl:44-50; discussion 51-2.
In view of evidence that brain serotonin (5-HT) function is abnormal in depression, the ability to alter 5-HT function has been studied as a mechanism of antidepressant drug action. In preclinical studies, antidepressants had significant effects on 5-HT receptor sensitivity. In the clinical setting, the pharmacologic challenge paradigm has generated interest as a means of studying 5-HT function. Most frequently used in these studies has been intravenous L-tryptophan (L-TRP), which increases serum prolactin (PRL). The authors review the neuroendocrine effects of intravenous L-TRP in depression and other conditions, as well as the effects of thymoleptic drugs on the PRL response to L-TRP. Findings are discussed in light of recent evidence that experimentally reduced plasma TRP can reverse the therapeutic effects of some antidepressants.
鉴于有证据表明抑郁症患者大脑中血清素（5-羟色胺，5-HT）功能异常，改变5-HT功能的能力已作为抗抑郁药物作用机制进行了研究。在临床前研究中，抗抑郁药对5-HT受体敏感性有显著影响。在临床环境中，药理学激发范式作为研究5-HT功能的一种手段引起了人们的兴趣。这些研究中最常用的是静脉注射L-色氨酸（L-TRP），它会增加血清催乳素（PRL）。作者回顾了静脉注射L-TRP在抑郁症和其他病症中的神经内分泌作用，以及抗精神病药物对PRL对L-TRP反应的影响。根据最近的证据对研究结果进行了讨论，该证据表明实验性降低血浆色氨酸可以逆转某些抗抑郁药的治疗效果。
