LACK OF ALLELIC ASSOCIATION OF DOPAMINE D1 AND D2 (TAQIA) RECEPTOR GENE POLYMORPHISMS WITH REDUCED DOPAMINERGIC SENSITIVITY IN ALCOHOLISM

Our study tested the hypothesis of whether the sensitivity of central dopamine receptors corresponds to the genotypic constitution of DNA-po lymorphisms of the dopamine D1 and D2 receptor (DRD1, DRD2) genes and is associated with poor treatment outcome. Therefore, 97 alcohol-depen dent patients were assessed according to their sensitivity of central dopamine receptors (apomorphine-induced secretion of growth hormone), clinical outcome during a 6-month observation period, and genotypic co nstitution of the TaqIA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP ) at the DRD2 locus and of the Bsp12861 RFLP at the DRD1 locus. On the 1st day of detoxification, dopamine receptor hyposensitivity was foun d in treatment nonresponders, but not in responders. Apomorphine-induc ed growth hormone release did not differ significantly in alcoholics w ith different genotypes of the DRD1 and DRD2 RFLPs. Neither did we fin d a significant allelic association with treatment response. Thus, we did not find evidence for a genetic determination of dopamine receptor hyposensitivity in alcoholics with poor treatment outcome.