GRADIENTS OF CSF MONOAMINE METABOLITES - A COMPARISON BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE VOLUNTEERS

Lumbar puncture at the L4-5 level was performed on 12 healthy male and 12 healthy female volunteers. Confirming previous results, we found p ronounced gradients in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-HIAA and HVA (5-hyd roxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid). We also found a gradient in 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol (HMPG), but only in the male volun teers. We also found that tapping-time was significantly longer in fem ales than in males. One reason for this discrepancy may be that an est imate of the spinal distance was greater in males, which might indicat e that a hydrodynamic factor plays a role. On taking tapping-time into consideration, the 5-HIAA and HMPG concentrations were significantly higher in males than in females.