Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:36:24.353Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Antidepressant effect of 5-methoxypsoralen: the melatonin synchronizer hypothesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

G Darcourt ,
P Feuillade ,
Y Bistagnin ,
P Robert ,
D Pringuey ,
M Touari ,
Y Merdji  and
B Bensmaïl
G Darcourt
Affiliation:
Clinique de Psychiatrie et de Psychologie Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, Hôpital Pasteur, 130, avenue de la Voie Romaine, BP 69, 06002Nice Cedex 01, France
P Feuillade
Affiliation:
Clinique de Psychiatrie et de Psychologie Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, Hôpital Pasteur, 130, avenue de la Voie Romaine, BP 69, 06002Nice Cedex 01, France
Y Bistagnin
Affiliation:
Clinique de Psychiatrie et de Psychologie Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, Hôpital Pasteur, 130, avenue de la Voie Romaine, BP 69, 06002Nice Cedex 01, France
P Robert
Affiliation:
Clinique de Psychiatrie et de Psychologie Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, Hôpital Pasteur, 130, avenue de la Voie Romaine, BP 69, 06002Nice Cedex 01, France
D Pringuey
Affiliation:
Clinique de Psychiatrie et de Psychologie Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, Hôpital Pasteur, 130, avenue de la Voie Romaine, BP 69, 06002Nice Cedex 01, France
M Touari
Affiliation:
Clinique de Psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Constantine, Algeria
Y Merdji
Affiliation:
Clinique de Psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Constantine, Algeria
B Bensmaïl
Affiliation:
Clinique de Psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Constantine, Algeria
Get access

Summary

5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) stimulates pineal melatonin secretion, and a decrease in dark phase melatonin levels has been described in major depression. As exogenous melatonin has shown synchronizer properties, authors hypothesized that giving 5-MOP would have antidepressant properties.

Twenty-six inpatients meeting the criteria of major depressive disorders were enrolled in a four-week, double blind trial of 5-MOP versus amitriptyline. Clinical improvement was identical in both treatment groups but biological changes were different in each group: 5-MOP patients showed an early nocturnal surge of melatonin levels that was maintained at the fourth treatment week, while melatonin levels remained unchanged in patients treated with amitriptyline.

Keywords

depression5-methoxypsoralenamitriptylinemelatonincortisolbiological rhythms
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , 1995 , pp. 142 - 154
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier, Paris 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association DSMIII-R: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 3rd ed. rev. København: American Psychiatric Association, 1987Google Scholar
Arato, MGrof, EGrof, PLaszlo, IBrown, GMReproductibility of the overnight melatonin secretion pattern in healthy men. In: Brown, GMWainwright, SD eds. The pineal endocrine aspects, advances in the Biosciences Oxford and New York: Pergamon Press, 1985; 53 277–82Google Scholar
Arendt, JWirz-Justice, ALongterm studies on imunoreactive human melatonin. Ann Clin Biochem 1979; 16: 307–12CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arendt, JAldhous, MMarks, VAlleviation of jet lag by melatonin: preliminary results of controlled double blind trial. Br Med J 1986; 292: 1170–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Axelrod, JThe pineal gland: a neurochemical transducer. Science 1974; 184: 1341–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Backstrom, MWetterberg, LInfluence of psoralen on melatonin formation in rat pineal gland in organ culture. Acta Endocrinol 1977; 86: 659–66CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beck-Friis, JKjellman, BFAperia, Fet al.Serum melatonin in relation to clinical variables in patients with major depressive disorder and a hypothesis of a low melatonin syndrom Acta Psychiatr Scand 1985; 71 319–30CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birau, NSchloots, WPathological nycthemeral of melatonin secretion in psoriasis, Klinefelter's syndrome and spina bifida. IRCS Medical Science 1979; 7: 400Google Scholar
Birau, NMelatonin in human serum. Progress in screening investigation and clinic. In: Birau, NSchloots, W eds. Melatonin current status and perspectives. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981; 297CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blask, DEHill, SMMelatonin and cancer: basic and clinical aspects. In: Miles, APhilbrick, DRSThomson, C eds. Melatonin Clinical Perspectives. Oxford Medical Publication, 1989; 128–65Google Scholar
Boyce, PM6-sulphathoxymelatonin in melancholia. Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142: 125–7Google Scholar
Branchey, LWeinberg, UBranchey, MLinkowski, PMendlewicz, JSimultaneous study of 24-hour patterns of melatonin and cortisol in depressed patients. Neuropsychobiology 1982; 8: 225–32CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brotman, AWFalk, WEGelenberg, AJPharmacologic treatment of acute depressive subtypes. In: Meltzer, HY eds. Psychopharmacology: the Third Generation of Progress Raven Press 1987; 1031–8Google Scholar
Brown, RPKocsis, JHCaroff, Set al.Differences in melatonin secretion between melancholic depressed patients and control subjects Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142: 811–6Google ScholarPubMed
Carman, JSPost, RMBuswell, RGoodwin, FKNegative effets of melatonin on depression. Am J Psy 1976; 133: 1181–6Google Scholar
Carney, MPWRoth, MGarside, RFThe diagnosis of depressive syndromes and the prediction of ECT response. Br J Psychiatry 1965; 111: 659–74CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carney, MWPSheffield, BFDepression and the Newcastle scales. Their relationship to Hamilton's scale. Br J Psychiatry 1972; 121: 35–40CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cassone, VMClesworth, MJArmstrong, SMEntrainment of rat circadian rhythms by daily injection of melatonin depends upon the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei. Physiology and Behaviour 1986; 36: 1111CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chazot, GClaustrat, BBrun, JOlivier, Rapid antidepressant activity of destyr gamma endorphin. Correlations with urinary melatonin. Biol Psychiatry 1985; 20: 1026–30CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Checkley, SAPalazidou, EMelatonin and antidepressant drugs: clinical pharmacology. In: Miles, APhilbrick, DRSThomson, C eds. Melatonin Clinical Perspectives. Oxford Medical Publication, 1989; 190–201Google Scholar
Claustrat, BChazot, GBrun, JJordan, DSassolas, GA chronobiological study of melatonin and cortisol secretion in depression subjects: plasma melatonin, a biochemical marker in major depression. Biol Psychiatry 1984; 19: 1215–28Google ScholarPubMed
Claustrat, BBrun, JGarry, PRoussel, BSassolas, GA once repeated study of nocturnal plasma melatonin patterns and sleep recordings in six normal young men. Journal of Pineal Research 1986; 3: 301–10CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cowen, PJFraser, SSammons, RGreen, ARAtenolol reduces plasma melatonin concentration in man. Br J Clin Pharmacology 1983; 15: 579–81CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ferrier, INArendt, JJohnstone, ECCrow, TJReduced normal melatonin secretion in chronic schizophrenia: relationship to body weight. Clinical Endocrinology (Oxford) 1982; 17: 181–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fleiss, JLThe design and analysis of clinical experiments New york: Wiley 1986Google Scholar
Frazer, ABrown, RKocsis, Jet al.Patterns of melatonin rhythms in depression J Neural Transmiss 1986; 21 (Suppl): 269–90Google ScholarPubMed
Grota, LJLewy, AJGoldsmith, LABrown, MPsoralen increases melatonin levels without ultraviolet. Ann NY Acad Sci 1985; 453: 385CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halbreich, VAsinis, GMSchinlecker, RZunoff, BNathan, SCortisol secretion in endogenous depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1985; 42: 904–14CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hamilton, MDevelopment of a rating scale for primary depressive illness. Br J Soc Clin Psychol 1967; 6: 278–96CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hansen, THeyden, TSundberg, IWetterberg, LEffect of propanolol on serum melatonin. Lancet 1977; 2: 309CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Honingsman, HPsoralen photochemotherapy: mechanisms drugs toxicity. Curr Probl Dermatol 1986; 15: 52–66CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iguichi, HKato, KIIbayaschi, HAge-dependent reduction in serum melatonin concentrations in healthy human subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1982; 55: 27–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klein, DCThe pineal gland: a model of neuro-endocrine regulation. In: Reichlin, SBaldassari, RJMartin, JB eds. The hypothalamus. New York: Raven Press, 1978; 303–27Google Scholar
Klein, DCAuerbach, DANambodiiri, MAWheler, GHTIndole metabolism in the mammalian pineal gland. In: Reiter, RJ eds. The pineal gland. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 1981Google Scholar
Kripke, DFMullaney, DJAtkinson, MHuey, LYHubbarb, ECircadian rhythm phases in affective illness. Chronobiologia 1979; 6: 7Google Scholar
Lang, UAubert, MLConne, BSBradke, JCSizonenko, PCInfluence of exogenous melatonin on melatonin secretion and the neuroendocrine reproductive axis in intact male rats during sexual maturation. Endocrinology 1983; 112: 1578CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lewy, AJWehr, TAGoodwin, FKNewsome, DAMarkey, SPLight suppresses melatonin secretion in humans. Science 1980; 210: 1267–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lewy, AJHuman melatonin secretion: a marker for adrenergic function. In: Post, RMBallanger, JC eds. Neurobiology of mood disorders. Baltimore, Maryland: Williams and Wilkins, 1984; 215–26Google Scholar
Lewy, AJSack, RLSinger, CLAssessment and treatment of chronobiological disorders using plasma melatonin levels and bright light exposure: the clock-gate model and the phase response curve. Psychopharmacol Bull 1984; 20: 561–5Google Scholar
Lewy, AJNurnberger, JIWehr, TAet al.Supersensitivity to light: a possible trait-marker for manic depressive illness Am J Psychiatry 1985a; 142: 725–8Google ScholarPubMed
Lewy, AJSack, RLSinger, CMTreating phase-typed chronobiological sleep and mood disorders using appropriately timed artificial light. Psychopharmacol Bull 1985b; 21: 368–72Google Scholar
Lewy, AJSack, RLMelatonin physiology and light therapy. Clin Neuropharmacol 1986; (Suppl) 4: 196–8Google Scholar
Lewy, AJSiever, LJUhde, TWMarkey, SPClonidine reduces plasma melatonin levels. J Pharm Pharmacology 1986; 38: 555–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lieberman, HRLea, AEMelatonin: effects on sleep and behaviour in man. In: Miles, APhilbrick, DRSThomson, C eds. Melatonin Clinical Perspectives. Oxford Medical Publication, 1989; 118–26Google Scholar
Linkowski, PMendlewicz, JLeclercq, RThe 24 hour profile of adrenocorticotropin and cortisol in major depressive illness. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1985; 61: 429CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lynch, HJWurtman, RJMoskowitz, MAArcher, MCHo, MHDaily rhythm in human urinary melatonin. Science 1975; 187: 169–71CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lynch, HLBrzezinski, ADeng, MHLieberman, HRWurtman, RJEffect of behavioural and physiological variables on melatonin secretion in humans. In: Reiter, RJFraschini, F eds. Advances in pineal research John Libbey & Co Ltd. 1987 181–90Google Scholar
Mendlewicz, JLinkowski, PBranchey, LAbnormal 24 h pattern of melatonin secretion in depression. Lancet 1979; 12: 1362CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miles, APhilbrick, DRSMelatonin and psychiatry, a review. Biol Psychiatry 1988; 23: 405–25CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minneman, KPWurtman, RJEffects of pineal compounds on mammals life. Life Sci 1975; 17: 1189–200CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, SAAsberg, MA new depression scale designed to be sensitive to change. Br J Psychiatry 1979; 134: 382–9Google ScholarPubMed
Moore, RYCentral neural control of circadian rhythms. Front Neuroendocrinol 1978; 5: 185–206Google Scholar
Moore, DCPaunier, LSizonenko, PCEffect of adrenergic stimulation and blockade on melatonin secretion in the human. Progress in Brain Research 1979; 52: 517–21Google ScholarPubMed
Nair, VNPet al.Effect of Lithium on circadian rhythm of plasma melatonin in normal men IRCS Med Sci 1984; 12 854–5Google Scholar
Papousek, MChronobiologische aspekte der zyklothymie. Forsche Neuro Psychiatr 1975; 43: 381–440Google Scholar
Parrish, JAFitzpatrick, TBTanenbaum, LPathak, MAPhotochemotherapy of psoriasis with oral methoxypsoralem and long-wave ultraviolet light. New Engl J Med 1974; 291: 1207CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quay, WBCircadian and estrous rhythms in pineal melatonin and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1964; 115 710–3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quay, WBPineal chemistry CC Thomas Press 1974Google Scholar
Redman, JArmstrong, SFree running activity rhythm in the rat: entrainment by melatonin. Science 1983; 219: 1080CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reiter, RJSorrentino, SInhibition of luteinizing hormone release and ovulation in PMS-treated rat by peripherally administered melatonin. Contraception 1971; 4: 385–92CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reppert, SMWeaver, DRRivkees, SAStoppa, EGPutative melatonin receptors in a human biological clock. Science 1988; 242: 78–81CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosenthal, et al.Atenolol in seasonal affective disorder: a test of the melatonin hypothesis Am J Psychiatry 1988; 145: 52–6Google ScholarPubMed
Sachar, EJHellman, LRoffwang, HPGallagher, TFDisrupted 24 hour patterns of cortisol secretion in psychotic depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1973; 28: 19CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sack, RLLewy, AJMelatonin and major affective disorders. In: Miles, APhilbrick, DRSThomson, C eds. Melatonin Clinical Perspectives. Oxford Medical Publication, 1989; 205–21Google Scholar
Schildkraut, UThe catecholamine hypothesis of affective disorders, a review of supporting evidence. Am J Psychiatry 1965; 122: 509–12Google ScholarPubMed
Shaw, KMStein, GMSandler, MMelatonin and Parkinsonnism. Lancet 1973; 1: 271CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Song, PSTapley, KJPhotochemistry and photobiology of psoralens. Photochem Photobiol 1979; 29: 1177–97CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Souêtre, ESalvati, EBelugou, JLet al.5-Metoxypsoralen increase the plasma melatonin levels in human The journal of investigative dermatology 1987; 89 152–5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Souêtre, ESalvati, ELacour, JCet al.Psoralen and the suppression of melatonin secretion by bright light Photochem Photobiol 1988a; 47: 579–81CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Souêtre, ETamarkin, LSalvati, EPacciotti, GKrebs, BDarcourt, G Stimulating effect of 5-methoxypsoralen on the secretion of melatonin Third International Conference of Chronopharmacology 1988b, Nice March 14–17, 1988Google Scholar
Souêtre, ESalvati, EBelugou, JLRobert, PBrunet, GDarcourt, GAntidepressant effect of 5-methoxypsoralen: a preliminary report. Psychopharmacology 1988c; 9: 430–1Google Scholar
Souêtre, ESalvati, ECandito, MDarcourt, GCircadian rhythms in depressed and recovery: evidence for the blunted amplitude hypothesis. Psychiatry Res 1989a; 28: 263–79CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Souêtre, ESalvati, EBelugou, JLKrebs, BDarcourt, G5-Methoxypsoralen increases evening sleepness in humans: possible involvement of the melatonin secretion. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1989; 36: 91–2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Souêtre, EDe Galeani, BGastaud, PSalvati, EDarcourt, G5-Methoxypsoralen increases the sensitivity of the retina to light in humans. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1989c; 36: 59–61CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Souêtre, ESalvati, EKrebs, BBelugou, JLDarcourt, GAbnormal melatonin response to 5-Methoxypsoralen in dementia. Am J Psychiatry 1989; 146: 1037–40Google ScholarPubMed
Steiner, Brown, The Pineal Gland: Endocrine Aspects. In: Brown, Vainwright, eds. Advances in Biosciences Oxford: PergamonPress 1985; 347–53Google Scholar
Sulser, FVetulani, JMobley, PLMode of action of antidepressant drugs. Biochemical Pharmacology 1978; 27: 257–53CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sulser, FRegulation and function of noradrenalin receptor systems in brain. Psychopharmacological aspects. Neuropharmacology 1984; 23: 255–61CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tamarkin, LCohen, MRoselle, DMelatonin inhibition and pinealectomy enhancement of 7,12-dimethylbenzalphaan-thracene-induced mammary tumors in the rat. Cancer Res 1981; 41: 4432–6Google ScholarPubMed
Tamarkin, LBaird, CJAlmeida, OFXMelatonin: a coordinating signal for mammalian reproduction?. Science 1985; 227: 714–20CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomson, et al.A comparison of melatonin secretion in depressed patients and normal subjects Br J Psychiatry 1988; 152: 260–5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Underwood, HThe pineal and circadian rhythms. In: Reiter, RJ eds. The Pineal Gland. New York: Raven Press, 1984; 221–51Google Scholar
Waldhauser, FSteiger, HVorkapic, PMelatonin secretion in man and the influence of exogenous melatonin on some physiological and behavioural variables. In: Reiter, RJFraschini, F eds. Advances in pineal research. John Libbey & Co Ltd, 1987; 207–21Google Scholar
Wehr, TAGoodwin, FK Biological Rhythms and Psychiatry. In: Arieti, SBrodie, H eds. American Handbook of Psychiatry 1980; vol VIIGoogle Scholar
Wehr, TALewy, AJWirz-Justice, ACraig, CTamarkin, LAntidepressants and a circadian rhythm phase-advance hypothesis of depression. In: Collu, RDucharme, RJBarbeau, ATolis, G eds. Brain Peptides and Hormones New York: Raven Press 1982; 263Google Scholar
Wehr, TAWirz-Justice, ACircadian rhythms mechanisms in affective illness and in antidepressant drug action. Pharmacopsychiatry 1982; 15: 31–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wetterberg, LMelatonin in humans: physiological and clinical studies. J Neural Transmission 1978; (Suppl) 13: 289–310Google Scholar
Wetterberg, LBeck-Friis, JAperia, BPeterson, UMelatonin/Cortisol ratio in depression. Lancet 1979; ii: 1361Google Scholar
Wetterberg, LMelatonin as a chronobiological marker in health and disease. In: Axelrod, JFraschini, FVolvo, GP eds. The pineal gland and its endocrine role. New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation, 1983; 575–87Google Scholar
Wetterberg, LBeck-Friis, JKjellman, BKLjunggren, JGCircadian rhythms in melatonin and cortisol secretion in depression. In: Usdin, Eet al.Frontiers in Biochemical and Pharmacological Research in Depression. New York: Raven Press, 1984; 197–204Google Scholar
Wever, RPhase shifts of human circadian rhythms due to shifts of artificial zeitgebers. Chronobiologia 1980; 7: 303Google ScholarPubMed
Widlöcher, DL'échelle de ralentissement dépressif, fondement théorique et premières applications. Psychol Med 1981; 13B: 53–60Google Scholar
Widlöcher, DLe ralentissement. Paris: PUF (collection Nodules), 1983Google Scholar
Wolff, FAThomas, TVClinical pharmacokinetics of methoxalen and other psoralens. Clin Pharmacokinet 1986; 11: 62–5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.