Electroconvulsive therapy and plasma prostaglandin E2 metabolite in major depressive disorder.

1. Animal experiments show that PGE2 affects the release of ACTH and corticosteroids. In depressed subjects, plasma concentrations of the same hormones are increased immediately following ECT. Consequently we explored possible effects of ECT on PGE2. 2. The major plasma PGE2 metabolite (PGEM), ACTH, and cortisol were determined by RIA. 3. PGEM did not change with time alone and anesthesia without ECT also did not have a consistent effect. PGEM was significantly elevated at all post ECT sampling times. The maximum increase, about fifty percent, was attained at 15 and 30 minutes. Similar changes were observed following ECT-I and ECT-VI. 4. Positive correlations between PGEM, ACTH and cortisol were obtained. 5. The results demonstrate that following ECT stimulus there is a robust increase in circulating PGEM. The increased release of PGE2 may, in part, account for the elevated plasma ACTH and cortisol.