Pathological gambling and DNA polymorphic markers at MAO-A and MAO-B genes

This study was conducted to detect a possible association of MAOA and/or MA OB genes with pathological gambling (PG). DNA polymorphisms in MAOA and MAO B genes were screened by molecular analysis in 68 individuals (47 males and 21 females) meeting ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling a nd 68 healthy comparison controls matched for age and sex. There were no si gnificant differences between pathological gamblers and healthy volunteers in overall allele distribution at the MAOA gene polymorphism. However there was a significant association between allele distribution and the subgroup of severe male gamblers (n = 31) compared to the males in the group of hea lthy volunteers (chi(2) = 5246; df = 1; P < 0.05 [Bonferroni corrected]). N o association was found between the MAOB polymorphic marker and PG. Allele variants at the MAOA, but not the MAOB gene may be a genetic liability fact or in PG, at least in severe male gamblers.