title: The effect of selected polymorphisms of the dopamine receptor gene DRD2 and the ANKK-1 on the preference of concentrations of sucrose solutions in men with alcohol dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to determine the influence of DRD2 gene polymorphisms in exon 8 G/A (rs 6276) in the promoter region -141 C Ins/Del (rs1799732) and the influence of ANKK-1 gene Taq-1A polymorphism (rs 1800497) on the preference of increasing sucrose concentrations in men with alcohol dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  63 male patients with alcohol dependence were genotyped for the above polymorphisms. Their preference for increasing sucrose concentrations was tested and their taste intensity perception of sucrose solutions was assessed. The patients were tested with the 'Sniffin' Sticks' olfactory test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a statistically significant association between some alleles of ANKK 1 gene Taq 1A polymorphisms and sucrose preference in the subjects. The A1 Taq 1A allele determined hedonistic response to the two highest concentrations of sucrose. No association was found regarding the other two polymorphisms (in the promoter region and in the exon 8 of the DRD2 gene).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study results suggest Taq-1A polymorphism plays a role in the preference to high concentrations of sucrose and its potential association with alcohol dependence pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland, marcinjablonski2@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jabłoński
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jasiewicz
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kucharska-Mazur
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samochowiec
authors.forename: Przemyslaw
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bienkowski
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mierzejewski
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samochowiec
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D013395:Sucrose; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C581293:DRD2 protein, human; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D013395:Sucrose; C489948:ANKK1 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases