Trimipramine and imipramine exert different effects on the sleep EEG and on nocturnal hormone secretion during treatment of major depression. 1996

A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.

In a 4-week double-blind clinical trial we compared the effects of the tricyclic antidepressants trimipramine and imipramine on the sleep EEG and on nocturnal bormone secretion in 20 male inpatients with major depression. Both treatments produced rapid significant clinical improvement in depression without severe adverse effects. However, the two drugs had markedly different neurobiologic profiles. Trimipramine enhanced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and slow wave sleep, whereas imipramine suppressed REM sleep and showed no effect on slow wave sleep. Total sleep time and the sleep efficiency index increased under trimipramine but not under imipramine. Nocturnal cortisol secretion decreased with trimipramine but remained unchanged with imipramine. In contrast to imipramine, trimipramine induced an increase in prolactin secretion compatible with its known antagonism at dopamine (D2) receptors. Imipramine induced a decrease in growth hormone secretion during the first half of the night. Neither of the drugs induced significant changes in plasma testosterone concentration. We conclude that trimipramine is an antidepressant with sleep-improving qualities that possibly acts through inhibition of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system activity by a yet unknown mechanism.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007030 Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System A collection of NEURONS, tracts of NERVE FIBERS, endocrine tissue, and blood vessels in the HYPOTHALAMUS and the PITUITARY GLAND. This hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal circulation provides the mechanism for hypothalamic neuroendocrine (HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES) regulation of pituitary function and the release of various PITUITARY HORMONES into the systemic circulation to maintain HOMEOSTASIS. Hypothalamic Hypophyseal System,Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis,Hypophyseal Portal System,Hypothalamic-Pituitary Unit,Hypothalamic Hypophyseal Systems,Hypothalamic Pituitary Unit,Hypothalamo Hypophyseal System,Hypothalamo Pituitary Adrenal Axis,Portal System, Hypophyseal
D007099 Imipramine The prototypical tricyclic antidepressant. It has been used in major depression, dysthymia, bipolar depression, attention-deficit disorders, agoraphobia, and panic disorders. It has less sedative effect than some other members of this therapeutic group. Imidobenzyle,Imizin,4,4'-Methylenebis(3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid)-3-(10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(b,f)azepin-5-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-1-propanamine (1:2),Imipramine Hydrochloride,Imipramine Monohydrochloride,Imipramine Pamoate,Janimine,Melipramine,Norchlorimipramine,Pryleugan,Tofranil
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010555 Personality Inventory Check list, usually to be filled out by a person about himself, consisting of many statements about personal characteristics which the subject checks. Edwards Personal Preference Schedule,Myers-Briggs Type Indicator,Indicator, Myers-Briggs Type,Inventories, Personality,Inventory, Personality,Myers Briggs Type Indicator,Personality Inventories
D010913 Pituitary-Adrenal System The interactions between the anterior pituitary and adrenal glands, in which corticotropin (ACTH) stimulates the adrenal cortex and adrenal cortical hormones suppress the production of corticotropin by the anterior pituitary. Pituitary Adrenal System,Pituitary-Adrenal Systems,System, Pituitary-Adrenal,Systems, Pituitary-Adrenal
D011388 Prolactin A lactogenic hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). It is a polypeptide of approximately 23 kD. Besides its major action on lactation, in some species prolactin exerts effects on reproduction, maternal behavior, fat metabolism, immunomodulation and osmoregulation. Prolactin receptors are present in the mammary gland, hypothalamus, liver, ovary, testis, and prostate. Lactogenic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropic Hormone, Pituitary,Mammotropin,PRL (Prolactin),Hormone, Pituitary Lactogenic,Hormone, Pituitary Mammotropic,Pituitary Lactogenic Hormone,Pituitary Mammotropic Hormone
D002540 Cerebral Cortex The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions. Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical
D003866 Depressive Disorder An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent. Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D004311 Double-Blind Method A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment. Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked

Related Publications

A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
January 1994, Journal of psychiatric research,
A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
January 1998, Neuropsychobiology,
A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
January 1995, Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946),
A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
October 1994, Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology,
A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
January 1989, Drugs,
A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
October 1992, Neuroendocrinology,
A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
January 1989, Neuropsychobiology,
A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
January 1993, Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry,
A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
November 1995, Psychopharmacology,
A Sonntag, and B Rothe, and J Guldner, and A Yassouridis, and F Holsboer, and A Steiger
January 1991, Journal of psychiatric research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!