NO ALLELIC ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PARKINSONS-DISEASE AND DOPAMINE D2, D3, AND D4 RECEPTOR GENE POLYMORPHISMS

Parkinson's disease is thought to be caused by a combination of unknow n environmental, genetic, and degenerative factors. Evidence from necr opsy brain samples and pharmacokinetics suggests involvement of dopami ne receptors in the pathogenesis or pathophysiology of Parkinson's dis ease. Genetic association studies between Parkinson's disease and dopa mine D2, D3 and D4 receptor gene polymorphisms were conducted. The pol ymorphism was examined in 71 patients with Parkinson's disease and 90 controls. There were no significant differences between two groups in allele frequencies at the D2, D3, and D4 dopamine receptor loci. Our f indings do not support the hypothesis that susceptibility to Parkinson 's disease is associated with the dopamine receptor polymorphisms exam ined. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.