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LOWERED MONOAMINE OXIDASE ACTIVITY IN BRAINS FROM ALCOHOLIC SUICIDES
Author(s) -
Gotttries C. G.,
Oreland L.,
Wiberg Å.,
Winblad B.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1975.tb04386.x
Subject(s) - monoamine oxidase , tryptamine , autopsy , medicine , endocrinology , psychology , physiology , psychiatry , chemistry , neuroscience , biochemistry , enzyme
—Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in the brains of 15 suicides, of whom 8 were alcoholics, was compared to a control material of 20 individuals without known mental disorder. At autopsy 13 different parts of the brain were macroscopicaily dissected out and the MAO activity in the samples estimated with β‐phenylethylamine and tryptamine as substrates. The MAO activity in all parts of the brain investigated was found to be significantly lower in the alcoholic suicides as compared to the controls, while there was no significant difference between the non‐alcoholic suicides and controls. Different variables which might have influenced the MAO activity were investigated. There was no significant correlation between age and tryptamine‐oxidizing activity, but a positive correlation between age and β‐phenylethylamine‐oxidizing activity was found. There was also a significant difference between the series in the time lapse between death and autopsy and in the time during which the dead body was kept at room temperature. However, neither of these variables could explain the differences between the series. The results thus demonstrate a connection between low MAO activity in the brain and suicidal behaviour among alcoholics.