ARE GENDER DIFFERENCES GENETICALLY RELATED TO CATECHOLAMINE METABOLISM IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Serum homovanillic acid (HVA) and norepinephrine (NE), serum dopamine- beta-hydroxylase (DBH), platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO), and erythroc yte catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) have been measured in 86 healt hy parents of schizophrenic patients and 36 normal control subjects. T he t-test showed that serum HVA concentration was significantly higher in mothers of female patients than in mothers of male patients (p < . 05); Kruskal-Wallis analysis revealed a significant difference in eryt hrocyte COMT activity among the mothers of male patients, mothers of f emale patients and female control subjects (H = 8.7, df = 2, p < .02); and the Mann-Whitney test demonstrated that erythrocyte COMT activity was significantly increased in mothers of male patients as compared w ith female control subjects (p < .01), but there were no significant d ifferences in the HVA concentration and COMT activity between the fath ers of male and female patients, and male control subjects. There were no significant changes in serum NE concentration, serum DBH and plate let MAO activity in these subjects. The present study suggests that ca techolamine metabolism in mothers of schizophrenic patients may play a genetic role in the gender differences of schizophrenia.