Dexamethasone suppression of 11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone and cortisol in depressed female patients and normal controls.

The dexamethasone suppression test based upon analysis of 11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone and cortisol was applied to 20 female depressed patients (10 endogenous, 10 neurotic) and 10 healthy controls. Calculating ratios of corticosterone to its biological precursor 11-deoxycorticosterone allows to assess the activity of adrenal 11 beta-hydroxylase. This enzyme activity depends on the mean secretion rate of ACTH. The preliminary data indicate that the sensitivity of the test may be increased when based on this enzyme activity rather than upon plasma cortisol concentrations. The decrease of 11-deoxycorticosterone, a potent mineralocorticoid in relation to corticosterone may contribute to the reduced urine concentrating capacity in patients with endogenous depression.