Correlation of Plasm Orphanin Level and Monoamine Neurotransmitters in Patients with Postpartum Depression
摘要
BACKGROUND: Orphanin, which was found in recent years, is an important bioactive polypeptide. Its extensive distribution in the central nervous system and peripheral tissue suggests a function of adjusting global behaviors. OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation of plasm orphanin level and monoamine neurotransmitters in patients with postpartum depression by determining the levels of orphanin and monoamine neurotransmitters such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine(DA) in patients. DESIGN: Case-control experiment taking diagnosis as evidence. SETTING: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changzheng Hospital and Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five healthy women and seventeen women patients with postpartum depression after delivery who came in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changzheng Hospital and Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA for further consultation during February 2002 to October 2004 were enrolled in this study, and served as control group and postpartum depression group, respectively. All the enrolled women, aged 21 to 43 years, with fair education levels, and voluntarily participated in this study. Women patients of 15 to 25 days after delivery suffered from the incipient postpartum depression with total scores of Edingburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) above 13. Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects. METHODS: The levels of orphanin and monoamine neurotransmitters in venous blood from 25 healthy women and 17 women patients with postpartum depression were determined. ① Sample collecting: Blood was taken from women in the postpartum depression group 2 weeks after onset, while from control group 35 days after delivery. ② Assay method: The level of orphanin was determined with radioimmunoassay (RIA). The reagent kit was provided by phoenix company (USA) and the procedure was strictly performed according to the instruct