Abstract
Background: It is not well analyzed whether there are differences in plasma levels of tryptophan (TRP) metabolites between healthy control people (HC) and patients of type II bipolar depression (BDII). Methods: Ultra high-speed liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry has been used for the simultaneous determination of plasma levels of tryptophan metabolites in depressive patients. Results: Plasma levels of TRP are not different between HC and patients of BDII. Serotonin (5-HT) levels are higher in BDII than HC. Plasma levels of 5-HIAA of HC are higher than those of old women of BDII, but lower in young women of BDII. Plasma levels of kynurenine (KYN) of HC are not different from those of patients of BDII. Conclusion: Plasma levels of 5-HT are higher in patients of BDII than those of HC, which may suggest that use of drugs inhibiting the 5-HT transportation and lower transporter biding may increase plasma levels of 5-HT in patients of BD.
Highlights
At the end of 19th century, Emil Kraepelin proposed a broad concept called “Manic-Depression Insanity” which included current day bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) [1, 2]
We succeeded in the simultaneous measurements of TRP metabolites including 5-HT, 5-HIAA or KYN by using an ultra high speed liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS) [4,5,6,7]
We reported that age and gender differences of plasma levels of TRP metabolites disappeared in patients of major monopolar depression some metabolites levels were in patients of some age and gender in bipolar depression [8]
Summary
At the end of 19th century, Emil Kraepelin proposed a broad concept called “Manic-Depression Insanity” which included current day bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) [1, 2]. In the 1970s, a subgroup of BD was recognized, BDII, which was characterized by a prominent recurrences of major depressive episodes. We succeeded in the simultaneous measurements of TRP metabolites including 5-HT, 5-HIAA or KYN by using an ultra high speed liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS) [4,5,6,7]. We reported that age and gender differences of plasma levels of TRP metabolites disappeared in patients of major monopolar depression some metabolites levels were in patients of some age and gender in bipolar depression [8]. Methods: Ultra high-speed liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry has been used for the simultaneous determination of plasma levels of tryptophan metabolites in depressive patients. Results: Plasma levels of TRP are not different between HC and patients of BDII. Conclusion: Plasma levels of 5-HT are higher in patients of BDII than those of HC, which may suggest that use of drugs inhibiting the 5-HT transportation and lower transporter biding may increase plasma levels of 5-HT in patients of BD
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