title: Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in neuropsychiatric diseases.
abstract: A 24-hour rhythm in serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in chronic schizophrenic patients showed a similar change as that in normal subjects: the highest activity during day time with a peak at 12.00 h and the lowest activity at night with a bottom at 24.00 hr, 4 h after sleep onset. Between a group of schizophrenic patients who have sleep disturbance and another group of patients who have normal sleep patterns, no significant difference was observed in the 24-hour rhythm in serum DBH activity. Very low but significant DBH activity was found in cerebrospinal fluid of neuropsychiatric patients, and the values were approximately 1/1,000 of the serum activity. A case after cerebral injury showed a high DBH activity in cerebrospinal fluid.
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000201:enzymology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase