TEMPERAMENT TRAITS ASSOCIATED WITH PLATELET MONOAMINE-OXIDASE ACTIVITY AND PLASMA 2-PHENYLETHYLAMINE IN HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS

Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and plasma 2-phenylethylamin e (PEA) were determined in 48 healthy persons to observe the relation with personality factors evaluated by the Kalolinska Scale of Personal ity (KSP). A significant negative correlation was observed between the plasma PEA concentration and the platelet MAO activity (r=-0.36, n=48 , P<0.01). The MAO activity in male subjects was correlated with sever al items on the KSP scales, negatively with socialization (r=-0.39, P< 0.05) and positively with guilt (r=0.42, P<0.05) and inhibition of agg ression (r=0.41, P<0.05). The plasma PEA concentration in male subject s was negatively correlated with the psychic anxiety score on KSP item (r=-038, n=24, P<0.05). However, there was no correlation between the KSP items and platelet MAO activity or plasma PEA concentration in fe male subjects. These data indicate that social introversion and/or neu rotic personality are associated with high platelet MAO activity and l ow plasma PEA concentration in male subjects.