Abstract
In the present study, plasma DBH activity and urinary HVA levels were measured in 19 autistic and 15 normal children. DBH activity was significantly elevated in the 8 less retarded autistic patients. In this subgroup, a negative correlation was found between plasma DBH and urinary HVA levels. These results support the hypothesis of a possible involvement of brain catecholamine dysfunction in the production of autistic symptoms.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1980).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-III) (3rd. ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Belmaker, R. H., Hattab, J., & Ebstein, R. P. (1978). Plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase in childhood psychosis.Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 8, 293–298.
Campbell, M., Anderson, L. T., Small, A. M., Perry, R., Green, W. H., & Caplan, R. (1982). The effects of haloperidol on learning and behavior in autistic children.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 12, 167–175.
Cohen, D. J., Caparulo, B. K., Shaywitz, B. A., & Bower, M. B., Jr. (1977). Dopamine and serotonin metabolism in neuropsychiatrically disturbed children: CSF homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid.Archives of General Psychiatry, 34, 545–550.
Coleman, M., Campbell, M., Freedman, L. S., Roffman, M., Ebstein, R. P., & Goldstein, M. (1974). Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase levels in Down's syndrome.Clinical Genetics, 5, 312–315.
Elchisak, M. A., Polinsky, R. J., Ebert, M. M., Powers, K. J., & Kopin, I. J. (1978). Contribution of plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) to urine and cerebrospinal fluid HVA in the monkey and its pharmacokinetic disposition.Life Sciences, 23, 2339–2348.
Garreau, B., Barthelemy, C., Domenech, J., Sauvage, D., Muh, J. P., Lelord, G., & Callaway, E. (1980). Troubles du métabolisme de la dopamine chez des enfants ayant un comportement autistique. Résultats des examens cliniques et des dosages urinaires de l'acide homovanilique.Acta Psychiatrica Belgica, 80, 249–265.
Goldstein, M. (1976). DBH and endogenous total 5-hydroxyindole levels in autistic patients and controls. In M. Coleman (Ed.),The autistic syndrome (pp. 57–58). Amsterdam: North-Holland.
Kato, T., Kusuya, H., & Nagatsu, T. (1974). A simple and sensitive assay for dopamine betahydroxylase activity by dual-wavelength spectrophotometry.Biochemical Medicine, 10, 320–328.
Kopin, I. J., Kaufman, S., Viveros, H., Jacobowitz, D., Lake, R., Ziegler, M. G., Lovenberg, W., & Goodwin, F. K. (1976). Dopamine beta-hydroxylase.Basic and Clinical Studies: Annals of Internal Medicine, 85, 211–223.
Lake, C. R., Ziegler, M. G., & Murphy, D. L. (1977). Increased norepinephrine levels and decreasedβ-hydroxylase activity in primary autism.Archives of General Psychiatry, 34, 553–556.
Lelord, G., Callaway, E., Muh, J. P., Sauvage, D., & Arlot, J. C. (1978). L'acide homovanilique urinaire et ses modifications par ingestion de vitamine B6: Exploration fonctionnelle dans l'autisme de l'enfant?Revue Neurologique, 134, 797–801.
Lelord, G., Muh, J. P., Barthelemy, C., Martineau, J., Garreau, B., & Callaway, E. (1981). Effects of pyridoxine and magnesium on autistic symptoms. Initial observations.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 11, 219–230.
Maas, J. W., Hattox, S. E., Greene, N. M., & Landis, D. H. (1979). 3-Methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenethyleneglycol production by human brain in vivo.Science, 205, 1025–1027.
Peyrin, L., Simon, H., Cottet-Eymard, J. M., Bruneau, N., & LeMoal, M. (1982). 6-Hydroxydopamine lesions of dopaminergic A10 neurons. Long-term effects on the urinary excretion of free and conjugated catecholamines and their metabolites in the rat.Brain Research, 235, 363–369.
Roginsky, M. S., Gordon, R. D., & Bennett, M. J. (1974). A rapid and simple gas-liquid Chromatographic procedure for homovanillic and vanillylmandelic acid in urine.Clinica Chimica Acta, 56, 261–264.
Wadman, S. K., Ketting, D., & Voute, P. A. (1976). Gas Chromatographic determination of urinary vanilglycol acid, vanilglycol, vanilacetic acid, and vanilactic acid. Chemical parameters for the diagnosis of neurogenic tumours and the evaluations of their treatment.Clinica Chimica Acta, 72, 49–68.
Young, J. G., Cohen, D. J., Brown, S. L., & Caparulo, B. K. (1978). Decreased urinary free catecholamines in childhood autism.Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 17, 671–678.
Young, J. G., Cohen, D. J., Caparulo, B. K., Brown, S. L., & Maas, J. W. (1979). Decreased 24-hour urinary MHPG in childhood autism.American Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 1055–1057.
Young, J. G., Cohen, D. J., Kavanagh, M. E., Landis, H. D., Shaywitz, B. A., & Maas, J. W. (1981). Cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and urinary MHPG in children.Life Sciences, 28, 2837–2845.
Young, J. G., Cohen, D. J., Shaywitz, S. E., Caparulo, R. K., Kavanagh, M. E., Hunt, R. D., Leckman, J. P., Anderson, G. M., Detlor, J., Harcherik, D., & Shaywitz, B. A. (1982). Assessment of brain function in clinical pediatric research: Behavioral and biological strategies.Schizophrenia Bulletin, 8(2), 205–235.
Young, J. G., Kavanagh, M. E., Anderson, G. M., Shaywitz, B. A., & Cohen, D. J. (1982). Clinical neurochemistry of autism and associated disorders.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 12, 147–165.
Young, J. G., Kyprie, R. M., Ross, N. T., & Cohen, D. J. (1980). Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity: Clinical applications in child psychiatry.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 10, 1–14.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by C.N.R.S. (UA 596) “Biology and Neuropsychiatry,” Sécurité Sociale 1982 and Fondation Langlois. We wish to thank Mrs. Barré, Mrs. Lehn, and Miss Lioret for their technical work.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garnier, C., Comoy, E., Barthelemy, C. et al. Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord 16, 23–29 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531575
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531575