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Science 2 March 1973:
Vol. 179. no. 4076, pp. 916 - 918
DOI: 10.1126/science.179.4076.916
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Articles

Reduced Monoamine Oxidase Activity in Platelets: A Possible Genetic Marker for Vulnerability to Schizophrenia

R. J. Wyatt 1, D. L. Murphy 1, R. Belmaker 1, S. Cohen 1, C. H. Donnelly 1, and W. Pollin 1

1 National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Monoamine oxidase activity in blood platelets was measured, with [14C]tryptamine as substrate, in 13 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia and in 23 normal volunteers. The monoamine oxidase activity of both schizophrenic and nonschizophrenic co-twins was significantly lower than it was for the normals, and it was highly correlated between twins. In addition, there was a significant inverse correlation between a measure of the degree of the schizophrenic disorder and the monoamine oxidase activity. These data suggest, but do not prove, that reduced platelet monoamine oxidase activity may provide a genetic marker for vulnerability to schizophrenia.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
PLATELET MONOAMINE OXIDASE B ACTIVITY AS A STATE MARKER FOR ALCOHOLISM: TREND OVER TIME DURING WITHDRAWAL AND INFLUENCE OF SMOKING AND GENDER.
T. Coccini, A. F. Castoldi, C. Gandini, G. Randine, G. Vittadini, P. Baiardi, and L. Manzo (2002)
Alcohol Alcohol. 37, 566-572
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TRAIT MARKERS FOR ALCOHOLISM: CLINICAL UTILITY.
C. K. Farren and K. F. Tipton (1999)
Alcohol Alcohol. 34, 649-665
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A Family Study of the Association of Increased Ventricular Size With Schizophrenia.
L. E. DeLisi, L. R. Goldin, J. R. Hamovit, M. E. Maxwell, D. Kurtz, and E. S. Gershon (1986)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 43, 148-153
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Smooth Pursuit Eye Tracking Impairment: Relation to Other 'Markers' of Schizophrenia and Psychologic Correlates.
L. J. Siever, R. J. Haier, R. D. Coursey, A. J. Sostek, D. L. Murphy, P. S. Holzman, and M. S. Buchsbaum (1982)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 39, 1001-1005
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Toward the Validation of RDC Schizoaffective Disorder.
N. E. Rosenthal, L. N. Rosenthal, F. Stallone, D. L. Dunner, and R. R. Fieve (1980)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 37, 804-810
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Blood Monoamine Metabolism in Huntington's Disease.
K. Belendiuk, G. W. Belendiuk, and D. X. Freedman (1980)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 37, 325-332
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Skeletal Muscle MAO Activity in the Major Psychoses: Relationship With Platelet and Plasma MAO Activities.
H. Y. Meltzer and R. C. Arora (1980)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 37, 333-339
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Biologic Heterogeneity and Psychiatric Research: Platelet MAO Activity as a Case Study.
M. S. Buchsbaum and R. O. Rieder (1979)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 36, 1163-1169
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Activities of Types A and B MAO and Catechol-O-methyltransferase in Blood Cells and Skin Fibroblasts of Normal and Chronic Schizophrenic Subjects.
R. Groshong, R. J. Baldessarini, D. A. Gibson, J. F. Lipinski, D. Axelrod, and A. Pope (1978)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 35, 1198-1205
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Genetic Strategies in Biological Psychiatry.
R. O. Rieder and E. S. Gershon (1978)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 35, 866-873
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Decreased Platelet Monoamine Oxidase Activity in Chronic Schizophrenia, Shown With Novel Substrates.
W. H. Berrettini, W. Prozialeck, and W. H. Vogel (1978)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 35, 600-605
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Substitute and Alternative Neurotransmitters in Neuropsychiatric Illness.
R. J. Baldessarini and J. E. Fischer (1977)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 34, 958-964
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The Human Platelet: A Diagnostic and Research Tool for the Study of Biogenic Amines in Psychiatric and Neurologic Disorders.
S. M. Stahl (1977)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 34, 509-516
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Platelet Monoamine Oxidase in Early Childhood Autism.
D. J. Cohen, J. G. Young, and J. A. Roth (1977)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 34, 534-537
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Reduced MAO Activity in First-Degree Relatives of Individuals With Bipolar Affective Disorders: A Preliminary Report.
J. F. Leckman, E. S. Gershon, A. S. Nichols, and D. L. Murphy (1977)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 34, 601-606
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Platelet Monamine Oxidase in Schizophrenia: An Investigation in Drug-Free Chronic Hospitalized Patients.
F. Owen, R. Bourne, T. J. Crow, E. C. Johnstone, A. R. Bailey, and H. I. Hershon (1976)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 33, 1370-1373
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Platelet Monamine Oxidase in Chronic Schizophrenia: Some Enzyme Characteristics Relevant to Reduced Activity.
D. L. Murphy, C. H. Donnelly, L. Miller, and R. J. Wyatt (1976)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 33, 1377-1381
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The biochemical high-risk paradigm: behavioral and familial correlates of low platelet monoamine oxidase activity.
M. Buchsbaum, R. Coursey, and D. Murphy (1976)
Science 194, 339-341
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Classification in Schizophrenia.
A. Falek and H. M. Moser (1975)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 32, 59-67
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Human Platelet Monoamine Oxidase Changes During the Menstrual Cycle.
R. H. Belmaker, D. L. Murphy, R. J. Wyatt, and D. L. Loriaux (1974)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 31, 553-556
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Multiple Forms of Brain Monoamine Oxidase in Schizophrenic and Normal Individuals.
M. A. Schwartz, R. J. Wyatt, H.-Y. T. Yang, and N. H. Neff (1974)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 31, 557-560
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Drugs, Neurotransmitters, and Schizophrenia.
S. H. Snyder, S. P. Banerjee, H. I. Yamamura, and D. Greenberg (1974)
Science 184, 1243-1253
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A Follow-Up of Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Schizophrenia.
R. Belmaker, W. Pollin, R. J. Wyatt, and S. Cohen (1974)
Arch Gen Psychiatry 30, 219-222
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Dopamine-beta-Hydroxylase: Evidence for Increased Activity in Sympathetic Neurons during Psychotic States.
S. Rosenblatt, W. P. Leighton, and J. D. Chanley (1973)
Science 182, 923-924
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