Prednisone decreases CSF somatostatin in healthy humans: implications for neuropsychiatric illness.

Abstract

Several neuropsychiatric illnesses, including depression and Alzheimer's disease, are reported to be characterized by hypercortisolemia and by reduced levels of cerebrospinal fluid somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (CSF-SLI). To investigate a possible causal linkage between these abnormalities we administered prednisone, 80 mg orally per day for 5 days, to 9 healthy volunteers. We observed significant prednisone-induced reductions in CSF-SLI. Moreover, the magnitude of these reductions was inversely related to the magnitude of prednisone-induced reductions in plasma ACTH levels, suggesting a functional interaction between circulating corticosteroids, central somatostatin and pituitary ACTH release.

• Authors: O M Wolkowitz, D R Rubinow, A Breier, A R Doran, C Davis, D Pickar
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 41 Issue 16 Pg. 1929-33 (Oct 19 1987) ISSN: 0024-3205 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 2889125 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Peptides
• somatostatin-like peptides
• Somatostatin
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
• Prednisone
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (blood)
• Adult
• Alzheimer Disease (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Depression (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (blood)
• Male
• Peptides (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Prednisone (pharmacology)
• Somatostatin (cerebrospinal fluid)