Increased Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Immunoreactivity in Monoamine-Containing Pontine Nuclei of Depressed Suicide men

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels are increased in specific brainstem regions of suicide victims with a diagnosis of major depression. Findings of the study showed that CRH-immunoreactivity levels are significantly increased in norepinephrine- & serotonin-containing pontine nuclei of depressed male suicide victims, thus supporting the hypothesis that CRH neurotransmission is elevated in extra-hpothalamic brain regions of depressed subjects. (55 refs)