Increased Norepinephrine Levels and Decreased Dopamine-β-Hydroxylase Activity in Primary Autism

Lake, C. Raymond; Ziegler, Michael G.; Murphy, Douglas B.

doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1977.01770170063005

Cited by 173 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Evidence for possible involvement of dopamine and norepinephrine in autism comes from evidence of decreased activity of dopamine ␤-hydroxylase (DBH) and increased levels of norepinephrine in serum from autistic children and their parents [Lake et al, 1977] and changes in catecholamine metabolites in such children [Martineau et al, 1994].…”

Section: Catecholaminesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a developmental neurobiology of autism

Polleux

Lauder

2004

Ment. Retard. Dev. Disabil. Res. Rev.

186

132

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Autism is a complex, behaviorally defined, developmental brain disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 1,000. It is now clear that autism is not a disease, but a syndrome with a strong genetic component. The etiology of autism is poorly defined both at the cellular and the molecular levels. Based on the fact that seizure activity is frequently associated with autism and that abnormal evoked potentials have been observed in autistic individuals in response to tasks that require attention, several investigators have recently proposed that autism might be caused by an imbalance between excitation and inhibition in key neural systems including the cortex. Despite considerable ongoing effort toward the identification of chromosome regions affected in autism and the characterization of many potential gene candidates, only a few genes have been reproducibly shown to display specific mutations that segregate with autism, likely because of the complex polygenic nature of this syndrome. Among those, several candidate genes have been shown to control the early patterning and/or the late synaptic maturation of specific neuronal subpopulations controlling the balance between excitation and inhibition in the developing cortex and cerebellum. In the present article, we review our current understanding of the developmental mechanisms patterning the balance between excitation and inhibition in the context of the neurobiology of autism.

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Section: Catecholaminesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a developmental neurobiology of autism

Polleux

Lauder

2004

Ment. Retard. Dev. Disabil. Res. Rev.

186

132

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“…Patients with autism show higher plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentrations than normal controls (Lake et al 1977;Launay et al 1987;Cook et al 1990;Leventhal et al 1990;Leboyer et al 1992). This elevation was not observed by Minderaa et al (1994).…”

Section: Catecholaminesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A significantly higher homovanillylc acid (HVA)/MHPG ratio was found in the CSF of autistic subjects, suggesting an imbalance between the dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems (Gillberg and Svennerholm 1987). Findings concerning serum dopamine-␤ -hydroxylase have been inconsistent and inconclusive (Lake et al 1977;Young et al 1978;Garnier et al 1986). However, to the best of our knowledge, no research on autism has demonstrated significant alterations in platelet [ 3 H]-rauwolscine binding characteristics.…”

Section: Catecholaminesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peripheral Markers of Serotonergic and Noradrenergic Function in Post-Pubertal, Caucasian Males with Autistic Disorder

Croonenberghs

Delmeire²,

Verkerk³

et al. 2000

Neuropsychopharmacology

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Some studies have suggested that disorders in the peripheral and central metabolism of serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline may play a role in the pathophysiology of autistic disorder. This study examines serotonergic and noradrenergic markers in a study(5-15 per 10.000) and is four times more common in boys than in girls. Research on the biological pathophysiology of autism has found some evidence for a role of the turnover of serotonin (5-HT) and catecholamines.

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“…There are several animal models in which loss of this gene is strongly associated with deficits in affiliative behaviors [for a review, see (7)]. Studies in humans have reported decreased serum DßH in probands with autism and their parents (33,34). In addition, some evidence suggests that maternal variation in DßH is associated with the manifestation of autism in their children (34,35).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%