Evidence for heritability of biogenic amine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of rhesus monkeys.
Susceptibility to several human psychopathological disorders is under partial genetic influence, and many of these disorders have biological correlates that may form part of the basis of this vulnerability. In humans, alterations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolite levels of the amine transmitters norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin have been associated with several forms of psychopathology, and altered levels of these metabolites have been found in healthy probands with a familial history of such illnesses. We report evidence for heritability of CSF levels of biogenic amine measures in rhesus monkeys, Macaca mulatta. In a pilot study of 54 monkeys with known pedigrees, significant differences among sire families were found for CSF levels of norepinephrine (p = 0.04), homovanillic acid (p = 0.02), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (p = 0.04). These data indicate that variation in bioaminergic measures is associated with pedigree, and that model systems incorporating both genetic and environmental factors can contribute to the understanding of the function of aminergic systems implicated in vulnerability to psychopathology.
Clarke
A S
AS
Harlow Primate Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53715, USA.
Kammerer
C M
CM
George
K P
KP
Kupfer
D J
DJ
McKinney
W T
WT
Spence
M A
MA
Kraemer
G W
GW
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D010375:Pedigree; D012737:Sex Factors
D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid