[Biochemical research in depression (author's transl)].

The biochemical research of depression did not gain in before the exploration of the nodes of effect of the antidepressants. For the present the point of research was the search for disturbances in metabolism of the biogenic amines in brain. The noradrenalin and serotonin-hypothesis was propounded postulating a disturbance in noradrenalin, or serotonin regulation, respectively at the receptor in depression. Until now experimental results did not support this hypothesis, just as the investigations of electrolytic changes in depression did not lead to homogeneous results. On the contrary the neuroendocrinological research showed important results; In endogenous depressive patients an increased cortisol-secretion was ascertained, and in about 65% of the patients a missing or strongly reduced cortisol-suppression after injection of dexamethason was noted, moreover, the growth-hormone-secretion after insulin-hypoglycemia is reduced in a part of depressive women in the menopause. Finally the thyrotropin-secretion stopped in 20--40% of the endogenous depressive patients after injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone.