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Monoamine Oxidase and Homovanillic Acid in Boys with Predispositions to Substance Abuse
Author(s) -
Gabel Stewart,
Stadler John,
Bjorn Janet,
Shindledecker Richard,
Bowden Charles L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1994.tb00094.x
Subject(s) - homovanillic acid , monoamine oxidase , substance abuse , monoamine neurotransmitter , psychology , psychiatry , medicine , clinical psychology , chemistry , biochemistry , enzyme , serotonin , receptor
Both dopaminergic dysregulation and abnormalities in monoamine oxidase (MAO) have been postulated as etiological factors in substance abuse. This study assessed whether MAO activity differed in sons of substance‐abusing fathers compared with sons of nonsubstance‐abusing fathers. It also assessed the levels of homovanillic acid (HVA), the metabolite of dopamine, and MAO in a group of substance‐using/‐abusing boys compared with peers without this history In the same setting. Sixty‐five boys admitted to a residential center were evaluated on blood tests for HVA and MAO, and on a series of diagnostic instruments and questionnaires designed to elicit information about parental substance abuse and about the subject's own substance use/abuse. The results indicated tentatively that younger (< 12.0 years) sons of substanceabusing fathers had higher levels of MAO than younger sons of nonsubstanceabusing fathers. Levels of MAO in older (12.0 years) sons of substance‐abusing and nonsubstance‐abusing fathers did not differ. Boys with histories of significant use/abuse of substances themselves had significantly higher MAO levels and significantly lower HVA levels than peers of the same age without substance use/abuse histories.