Dopamine D-2 receptor promoter polymorphism: no association with schizophrenia

A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the dopamine D-2 recept or gene, the -141C Del allele, which may be associated with schizophrenia s usceptibility, has previously been described in a Japanese sample. The pres ent study was done in order to examine whether such an association would al so be found in a North American schizophrenia patient population. However, analysis of the -141C Del allele frequency in the present group of schizoph renia patients (n = 50) and control subjects (n = 51) did not identify any significant differences. These data support the recent reports on German an d British subjects that this genetic variation in the 5'-flanking region of the dopamine D-2 receptor gene does not play a major role in the genetic p redisposition to schizophrenia. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.