Serotonin and autism: biochemical and molecular biology features.
Whole blood and urinary levels of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) and the derivative urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured in normal and autistic subjects. An association was tested between autism and a marker coding for the 5-HT2A serotonergic receptor gene. Significant group (high urinary 5-HT and low whole blood 5-HT in autism) and age effects (urinary 5-HT decrease with age) were found. Moreover, whole blood 5-HT levels were correlated with clinical state. No differences in allele and genotype frequencies for the 5-HT2A receptor marker were found in this autistic population compared with age-matched healthy students.
Hérault
J
J
Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moléculaire, INSERM U 316, CHRU Bretonneau, Tours, France.
Petit
E
E
Martineau
J
J
Cherpi
C
C
Perrot
A
A
Barthélémy
C
C
Lelord
G
G
Müh
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000652:urine*
D012701:Serotonin