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Cited by 140Stress Responses and CortisolNeuropeptides and Animal PhysiologyNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Mood and Behavioral Effects of Physostigmine on Humans Are Accompanied by Elevations in Plasma β-Endorphin and Cortisol

Risch, Samuel C., Cohen, Robert M., Janowsky, David S., Kalin, Ned H., Murphy, Dennis L.·1980·Science
DOI 10.1126/science.7433977
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Abstract

Administration of physostigmine to normal volunteers produced significant elevations in plasma cortisol and beta-endorphin immunoreactivity as well as alterations in mood, cognition, and behavior. These observations might be explained by a cholinergically mediated stress syndrome. However, peak elevations in plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity (but not in plasma cortisol) were significantly correlated with physostigmine-induced increases in depression ratings. These results suggest that a cholinergically mediated beta-endorphin pathway may be involved in the observed affective changes.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.7433977

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  • Administration of the AChE blocker physostigmine to patients with a history of depression, individuals with Tourette's syndrome and normal volunteers results in increased symptoms of depression.

    “This has been observed with administration of the AChE blocker physostigmine to patients with a history of depression, individuals with Tourette’s syndrome and normal volunteers (Risch et al., 1980; Risch et al., 1981; Shytle et al., 2000).”

    From Acetylcholine as a Neuromodulator: Cholinergic Signaling Shapes Nervous System Function and Behavior (2012) · cites this paper as Risch et al., 1980

  • Increasing ACh signaling in humans results in increased symptoms of depression.

    “There is strong evidence that increasing ACh signaling in humans results in increased symptoms of depression (Janowsky et al., 1972; Risch et al., 1980).”

    From Acetylcholine as a Neuromodulator: Cholinergic Signaling Shapes Nervous System Function and Behavior (2012) · cites this paper as Risch et al., 1980

  • Cholinergic hyperactivity plays a role in the pathophysiology of depression and can exacerbate depression-like symptoms in patients and controls.

    “First, cholinergic hyperactivity plays a role in the pathophysiology of depression (2–4) and can exacerbate depression-like symptoms in patients and controls (4–6).”

    From Persistent β <sub>2</sub> *-Nicotinic Acetylcholinergic Receptor Dysfunction in Major Depressive Disorder (2012) · cites this paper as [5]

  • Increased ACh transmission can increase behaviors related to depression in humans and rodents, but the type of circuits/cell types modulated by ACh or nAChRs can have opposite effects on mood regulation, and the outcome depends on the sum of these effects.

    “while increased ACh transmission can increase behaviors related to depression in humans (Risch et al., 1980) and rodents (Mineur et al., 2013), the type of circuits/cell types that are modulated by ACh or nAChRs can have opposite effects on mood regulation, and the outcome on behavior depends on the sum of these effects.”

    From Mood and anxiety regulation by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: A potential pathway to modulate aggression and related behavioral states (2015) · cites this paper as Risch et al., 1980

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Related

Authors
Risch, S. C., Cohen, R. M., Janowsky, D. S., Kalin, N. H., & Murphy, D. L.
Affiliations
  • National Institute of Mental Health (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
ORCID
Venue
Science
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Published
1980-09-26
Volume
209
Issue
4464
Pages
1545-1546
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
DOI
10.1126/science.7433977
OpenAlex
W2016331834
Cited by
140
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
FWCI
6.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
physostigmine, beta-endorphin, cortisol, mood, depression, cholinergic pathways, cognition, behavior
MeSH terms
Behavior, Emotions, Endorphins, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Physostigmine

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