Serotonin metabolism and depression in oral contraceptive users
Shaarawy, M.; Fayad, M.; Nagui, A.R.; Abdel-Azim, S.
Contraception 26(2): 193-204
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-7824 PMID: 7140295 DOI: 10.1016/0010-7824(82)90087-7Document Number: 562698
Serotonin and nicotinic acid ribonucleotide metabolic pathways of tryptophan metabolism were studied before and after tryptophan load test in 30 women using oral contraceptive steroids for 2-5 wk. Ten were suffering from depression. Another 10 healthy women participated as a control group. The 24-h urinary excretion of serotonin, 5-hydroxy IAA and total 5-hydroxyindoles were estimated as indices of serotonin pathway metabolites, while xanthurenate excretion was determined as an index of tryptophan oxygenase pathway. Plasma cortisol, urinary 17-oxosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids were determined to assess adrenal cortical function. Urinary creatinine output was assayed to check the adequacy of 24-h urine collection. The changes induced by oral contraceptive steroids on tryptophan and corticosteroid metabolism were correlated with the associated depression. Changes in serotonin metabolism were demonstrated in the depression group before and after tryptophan load test, while in the nondepression group, these changes were only demonstrated after tryptophan load test. Evidently, alterations in tryptophan metabolism are usually well compensated in the nondepression group but may accentuate or precipitate the development of depression in susceptible women.