Neuropeptide Y in Frontal Cortex Is Not Altered in Major Depression |
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| Authors: | &dagger Gregory A. Ordway,&Dagger Craig A. Stockmeier,&Dagger Herbert Y. Meltzer,§ James C. Overholser,&Dagger Susan Jaconetta, &# Peter S. Widdowson |
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| Affiliation: | Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and; Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi;; Departments of Psychiatry and; Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.;and; ZENECA Central Toxicology Laboratory, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England |
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| Abstract: | Abstract: Previously, we reported a modest but significant reduction in the concentration of neuropeptide Y in frontal cortices from victims of suicide relative to age-matched natural or accidental death control subjects. The reduction in neuropeptide Y appeared to be greatest in a subgroup of victims of suicide for which there was indirect evidence of histories of depression. We pursued these initial findings in the present study by measuring neuropeptide Y concentrations in frontal cortices from natural or accidental death control subjects and from suicide victims in whom a firm diagnosis of major depression was established by psychiatric autopsy. Because several subjects with major depression had a comorbid diagnosis of alcoholism, a group of victims of suicide that had an Axis I diagnosis of alcohol dependence was also studied. No significant differences in neuropeptide Y concentrations were observed between control subjects and victims of suicide with major depression or victims of suicide with alcohol dependence. These findings do not support a role for neuropeptide Y in major depression. |
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| Keywords: | Human Neuropeptide Y Suicide Major depression Depression Alcoholism Frontal cortex |
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