title: Platelet monoamine oxidase in a pedigree with schizophrenia: an interlaboratory project.
abstract: Conflicting reports on the association between platelet MAO activity and schizophrenia prompted a critical review and determinations on identical samples at one laboratory in Sweden and one in the U.S.A. Samples originated from eight schizophrenics and 27 relatives belonging to a large pedigree, thus ensuring biological homogeneity. In the USA laboratory, a significantly lower MAO activity was found in the schizophrenics when benzylamine or beta-phenylethylamine was used as substrate (but not with tryptamine), while a similar result was obtained in the Swedish laboratory when tryptamine was used (but not with benzylamine or beta-phenylethylamine). Comparisons between materials examined in different laboratories do not seem meaningful until differences in methodologies have been clarified. At present there is neither proof nor disproof of MAO being a "genetic marker" for vulnerability to the schizophrenic disorder.
mesh_terms: D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D010627:Phenethylamines; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D013548:Sweden; D014363:Tryptamines; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D010627:Phenethylamines; D014363:Tryptamines; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase