Plasma hormones and catecholamine metabolites in monozygotic twins discordant for psychosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine plasma cortisol, adrencorticotropin hormone, and indicators of catecholamine activity in monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia or major affective disorders.


BACKGROUND
Previous research has suggested that catecholamines play a role in the etiology of major mental illness. Several findings have also shown an inverse relation between hippocampal volume and cortisol levels in psychiatric populations including patients who are depressed and patients with Cushing disease.


METHODS
In this study, plasma obtained from monozygotic twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia (n = 10) or major affective disorder (n = 3) was assayed for epinephrine, norepinephrine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, adrencorticotropin hormone, and cortisol.


RESULTS
There was significant concordance for levels of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, consistent with the high concordance for indicators of dopamine activity observed in healthy monozygotic pairs. There was also concordance for adrencorticotropin hormone. However, in contrast to findings on healthy monozygotic pairs, there was no relation for epinephrine, norepinephrine, or cortisol. Among patients, there was an inverse correlation between cortisol and the magnitude of the reduction in hippocampal volume, relative to that of the healthy co-twin.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the potential role of adrenal steroids and hippocampal function in the expression of psychosis.
Walker
Elaine F
EF
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Bonsall
Robert
R
Walder
Deborah J
DJ
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics
D002395:Catecholamines; D006728:Hormones; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid; D004837:Epinephrine