PSEUDOAUTOSOMAL REGION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA - SEX CONCORDANCE OF THE AFFECTED SIBPAIRS AND THE ASSOCIATION STUDY WITH DNA MARKERS

To test a hypothesis that the pseudoautosomal region of the sex chromo somes contributes to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, we carried out the following studies: First, the sex concordant rates of 77 schizoph renic sibpairs were examined. Secondly, 46 schizophrenic patients and 150 healthy controls were tested for association with DXYS17, DXYS20, DXYS28, and MIC2 in the pseudoautosomal region. Sex concordant rates i n sibpairs with schizophrenia were not higher than would be expected b y chance. No significant associations were found between four DNA mark ers we tested and schizophrenia. These results did not support the hyp othesis; however, linkage disequilibrium can only be detected if the m arker and trait loci are located close enough. Linkage analyses in mul tiplex families need to be carried out before ruling out this region a s a location for a gene for schizophrenia. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.