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Lower CSF Taurine Levels in Male Pathological Gamblers than in Healthy Controls
Author(s) -
NORDIN CONNY,
EKLUNDH THOMAS
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1077(199609)11:5<401::aid-hup781>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - taurine , pathological , medicine , amino acid , endocrinology , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , psychology , chemistry , biochemistry
Amino acids were determined in CSF obtained from 10 males fulfilling the DSM‐III‐R criteria for pathological gambling. On comparing with seven healthy male controls, the mean CSF level of the inhibitory amino acid taurine in the third (13–18 ml) CSF fraction, was significantly lower in gamblers ( p <0·05). Furthermore, the CSF taurine concentration was significantly influenced by height, but differently in gamblers and controls. There were no differences between gamblers and controls regarding other amino acids. The results might indicate that pathological gamblers have a functional disturbance of the disposition of taurine in the CSF. Whether this is due to a reduced entry of taurine across the blood–brain barrier, increased elimination from the CSF, a disturbed CSF circulation or a combination thereof, needs to be clarified.