title: Gradients of CSF monoamine metabolites: a comparison between male and female volunteers.
abstract: Lumbar puncture at the L4-5 level was performed on 12 healthy male and 12 healthy female volunteers. Confirming previous results, we found pronounced gradients in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-HIAA and HVA (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid). We also found a gradient in 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol (HMPG), but only in the male volunteers. We also found that tapping-time was significantly longer in females than in males. One reason for this discrepancy may be that an estimate of the spinal distance was greater in males, which might indicate that a hydrodynamic factor plays a role. On taking tapping-time into consideration, the 5-HIAA and HMPG concentrations were significantly higher in males than in females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Family Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nordin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eklundh
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fernström
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swedin
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Zachau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D006719:Homovanillic Acid