title: Hypothalamic digoxin and brain function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study assessed the biochemical differences between right hemispheric-dominant and left hemispheric-dominant individuals. The chemical hemispheric-dominance in various systemic and neuropsychiatric diseases was also studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The isoprenoid metabolites, digoxin, dolichol and ubiquinone, glycoconjugate metabolism, free radical metabolism and the RBC membrane composition, were studied in individuals with differing hemispheric-dominance. The digoxin levels and RBC membrane Na+-K+ATPase activity were also studied in systemic and neuropsychiatric diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that right hemispheric-dominant individuals had elevated digoxin levels, increased free radical production and reduced scavenging, increased tryptophan catabolites and reduced tyrosine catabolites, increased glycoconjugate levels and increased cholesterol : phospholipid ratio of RBC membranes. Left hemispheric-dominant individuals had the opposite patterns. This patterns could be correlated with various systemic and neuropsychiatric diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Right hemispheric-dominance represents a hyperdigoxinaemic state with membrane sodium-potassium ATPase inhibition. Left hemispheric-dominance represents the reverse pattern with hypodigoxinaemia and membrane sodium-potassium ATPase stimulation. Hemispheric-dominance could predispose to various systemic and neuropsychiatric diseases.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Neurology, Medical College Hospital, Trivandrum, Kerala.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kurup
authors.affiliation: 2Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kurup