The effect of early-life vulnerability factors on the subsequent pathophysiology of severe mood disorders has yet to be fully elucidated. This study examines the relationship between early adverse life experience, family history and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. Childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) scores, family history data and the cortisol response to the dexamethasone/...

3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid (TMCA) is one of the constituents in Onji (roots of Polygala tenuifolia WILLD), an herbal medicine used for sedative in Japanese traditional Kampo medicine. Our previous study revealed that oral administration of this compound prolongs sleeping time induced by hexobarbital in mice to exhibit sedative action. In the present study, we investigate the effects of TMCA ...

We investigated the temporal alterations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) immunoreactivity in the hippocampus after seizure onset. Expression of ACTH was observed within interneurons in the pre-seizure group of seizure sensitive gerbils, whereas its immunoreactivities were rarely detected in seizure resistant gerbil. Three hr after the seizure, ACTH immunoreactivity was significantly incre...

Orexins are neuropeptides selectively expressed in a small number of neurons in the lateral-posterior hypothalamus. We measured orexin-A in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 66 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia and adjustment disorder after a suicide attempt. Blood samples confirmed that the patients were free from antidepressive and neuroleptic medication at the time of t...

Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) are considered to be involved in the physiological processes of human labour. Both may have dual effects, directly regulating myometrial contractility and fetal membrane prostaglandin production. During this study, we investigated the mechanisms through which CRH and PAF exert their latter effect. CRH and PAF increased ...

In a double-blind cross-over study of 12 asthmatic patients the effects of 1,000 micrograms.day-1 beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) on airway function, bronchial reactivity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been compared to those of 15 mg.day-1 oral prednisone (PRD). None of the patients had ever received corticosteroids before. Fourteen days treatment with either of both stero...