A family-based study of the Cys23Ser 5HT2C serotonin receptor polymorphismin schizophrenia

The 5HT2C receptor has a high affinity for clozapine, a nontypical neurolep tic, and has therefore been postulated to play a role in mediating negative symptoms; and neuroleptic response in schizophrenia. In the current stud;v , the Cys23Ser 5HT2C serotonin receptor polymorphism was examined for linka ge to schizophrenia by genotyping 207 nuclear families consisting of both p arents and schizophrenic child and using the transmission disequilibrium te st to examine possible preferential transmission of these alleles from 68 h eterozygous mothers to their ill child. No evidence was obtained for prefer ential transmission of the Cys23Ser 5HT2C alleles in schizophrenia in eithe r of the two main ethnic groups examined (German and Palestinian Arab) or i n the combined cohort (TDT chi-square=0.00, NS). (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.