8,12,13 Figure 1. Model for normal and impaired regulation of the HPA axis. HPA, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical; CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone; AVP, arginin-vasopressin; POMC, pro-opiomelanocortin; ACTH, adrenocorticotropic click here hormone Impaired HPA axis regulation during an acute episode

Is the most consistent laboratory finding In depression and bipolar disorder (see refs 13 to 15 for reviews), which corresponds to the concept of stress-related disorders. Accordingly, the majority of depressed patients exhibit an exaggerated ACTH Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical and Cortisol response to the combined dex/CRH test (Figure 2). Figure 2. Cortisol response to the combined dex/CRH test is elevated in depression (AUC, P<.001) suggesting dysregulation of the HPA axis due to impaired glucocorticoid signaling. Dex, dexamethasone; CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone; HPA, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical; ... These alterations were shown to normalize after successful Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical antidepressant treatment,11,16-18 suggesting that altered HPA axis regulation and Its normalization Is Involved In the pathogenesis of and recovery

from Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical depression, respectively. Genetics of stress response Evidence for herltabillty Is a prerequisite for the Involvement of genetic factors. The most efficient way for eval_ uatlng heritability Is twin studies comparing phenotypical similarity between monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Twin data are available for the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST),19 which Is a standardized procedure for the assessment of the psychosocial stress response. Briefly, this Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical test comprises

a public speaking task involving a mock job interview and a mental arithmetic task. Subjects are asked to prepare a presentation for promoting their candidacy for a position that is tailored to their education. After the preparation time, subjects give their presentation in front of a panel of judges who are evaluating the talk. After 5 minutes, subjects are requested to perform an unexpected mental arithmetic task for a further 5 minutes. HPA axis activity Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical (plasma ACTH and Cortisol and/or salivary Cortisol) Is evaluated before and after the tasks as well as during recovery. Federenko and coworkers20 reported a herltabillty estimate (h2) of 0.32 for the plasma Cortisol response to the TSST in 33 monozygotic and 25 dizygotic twin pairs, suggesting moderate 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase herltabillty, but this Increased up to 0.98 In two repetitions of the test. Herltabillty estimates for ACTH and salivary Cortisol were distinctly smaller In the first test session, but increased markedly In the repeated test sessions. A previous study by KIrschbaum and coworkers21 with 13 monozygotic and 11 dizygotic twin pairs also reported only marginal herltabillty for the sailvary Cortisol response to a single administration of the TSST.