Measurement of nitric oxide levels and activity of nitric oxide synthetase in the patients with depression

Objective To measure the correlation between the levels of blood serum nitric oxide(NO) ,the activity of nitric oxide synthetase(NOS) and depression.Methods 136 patients with depression were diagnosed by CCMD-3 and 120 healthy control subjects were included in the study.NO and NOS levels in blood serum of both groups were tested, and the variation of NO and NOS between the two groups were compared.Results The blood se-rum NO levels[ (70.05±10.34)μmol/L w.(67.17±16.52) μmol/L] and the activity of NOS [(29.49±5.12)U/L vs.(26.99±2.87) U/L] in the patients with depression were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).The blood serum NO levels and the activity NOS in the treatment patients was lower than the oth-er patients[(74.42±8.80) μmol/L vs.(78.81±12.28) μmol/L;(27.71±5.46)U/L vs.( 30.49±4.65 )U/L,P <0.05].Conclusion The blood serum NO levels and the activity of NOS increase in the patients with de-pression.NO might be involved in the pathogenesis of depression.The antidepressants might descend the NO levels so to relieving depression. Key words: Depression; Nitric oxide; Nitric oxide synthetase