Rapid antidepressant response after nocturnal TRH administration in patients with bipolar type I and bipolar type II major depression.

Background: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is a tripeptide that produces endocrine and behavioral effects in animals and humans. Some studies have shown transient antidepressant activity after morning administration of TRH. We hypothesized that nocturnal administration of TRH, when the circadian sensitivity of the TRH receptor is at its peak, may result in a more robust antidepressant effect.

Comparative effects of mirtazapine and fluoxetine on sleep physiology measures in patients with major depression and insomnia.

Background: Sleep complaints are common in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Both MDD and antidepressant drugs characteristically alter objective sleep measures. This study compares the effects of mirtazapine and fluoxetine on sleep continuity measures in DSM-IV MDD patients with insomnia.

The thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) hypothesis of homeostatic regulation: implications for TRH-based therapeutics.

The functions of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in the central nervous system (CNS) can be conceptualized as performed by four anatomically distinct components that together comprise a general TRH homeostatic system. These components are 1) the hypothalamic-hypophysiotropic neuroendocrine system, 2) the brainstem/midbrain/spinal cord system, 3) the limbic/cortical system, and 4) the chronobiological system. We propose that the main neurobiological function of TRH is to promote homeostasis, accomplished through neuronal mechanisms resident in these four integrated systems.

Altered neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression contributes to disease progression in Huntington's disease transgenic mice.

Reduced neuronal NOS (nNOS) expression and biochemical activity was found in the striatum (P<0.05) and cerebellum P<0.05) of late-stage R6/1 Huntington's disease (HD) mice.