Abstract
Whole blood serotonin (5HT) and plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels were determined in 47 families of autistic probands to study relationships within families of these measures. Whole blood 5HT, but not plasma NE, was significantly positively correlated between autistic children and their mothers, fathers, and siblings. Twenty-three of the 47 families studied had at least 1 hyperserotonemic member. Of these 23 families, 10 (43.5%) had 2 or more hyperserotonemic members; 5 families were identified in which each family member studied had hyperserotonemia (whole blood 5HT > 270 ng/ml). If the autistic child of a family was hyperserotonemic, the first-degree relatives were 2.4 times more likely to be hypersertonemic than if the autistic child was not hyperserotonemic. Mean whole blood 5HT levels were higher in autistic subjects than their parents or siblings. Siblings were found to have lower plasma NE than autistic probands. This study replicates a previous study showing familial relationships of hyperserotonemia within families with autistic children.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramson, R. K., Wright, H. H., Carpenter, R., Brennan, W., Lumpuy, O., Cole, E., & Young, S. R. (1989). Elevated blood serotonin in autistic probands and their first-degree relatives.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19, 397–407.
American Psychiatric Association (1980).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Anderson, G. M., Feibel, F. C., Wetlaufer, L. A., Schlicht, K. R., Ort, S. M., & Cohen, D. J. (1985). Effect of a meal on human whole blood serotonin.Gastroenterology, 88, 86–89.
Anderson, G. M., Freedman, D. X., Cohen, D. J., Volkmar, F. R., Hoder, E. L., McPhedran, P., Minderaa, R. B., Hansen, C. R., & Young, J. G. (1987). Whole blood serotonin in autistic and normal subjects.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28, 885–900.
Anderson, G. M., Young, J. G., Cohen, D. J., Schlicht, K. R., & Patel, N. (1981). Liquidchromatographic determination of serotonin and tryptophan in whole blood and plasma.Clinical Chemistry, 27, 775.
August, G. J., Stewart, M. A., & Tsai, L. (1981). The incidence of cognitive disabilities in the siblings of autistic children.British Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 416–422.
Brammer, G. L., McGuire, M. T., & Raleigh, M. J. (1987). Vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) whole blood serotonin level is determined by platelet uptake sites.Life Sciences, 41, 1539–1546.
Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., & Freedman, D. X. (1988a). Serotonin and measured intelligence.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18, 553–559.
Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., & Freedman, D. X. (1988b). Free serotonin in plasma: Autistic children and their first-degree relatives.Biological Psychiatry, 24, 488–491.
Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., Heller, W., Metz, J., Wainwright, M., & Freedman, D. X. (1990). Autistic children and their first-degree relatives: relationships between peripheral neurotransmitter levels and measured intelligence.Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 2, 268–274.
Freedman, D. X., Belendiuk, K., Belendiuk, G. W., & Crayton, J. W. (1981). Blood tryptophan metabolism in chronic schizophrenics.Archives of General Psychiatry, 38, 655–659.
Hanley, H. G., Stahl, S. M., & Freedman, D. X. (1977). Hyperserotonemia and amine metabolites in autistic and retarded children.Archives of General Psychiatry, 34, 521–531.
Kuperman, S., Beeghly, J. H. L., Burns, T. L., &Tsai, L. Y. (1985). Serotonin relationships of autistic probands and their first-degree relatives.Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24, 186–190.
Katsui, T., Okuda, M., Usuda, S., & Koizumi, T. (1986). Kinetics of 3H-serotonin uptake by platelets in infantile autism and developmental language disorder (including five pairs of twins).Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 16, 69–76.
Lake, C. R., Ziegler, M. G., & Murphy, D. L. (1977). Increased norepinephrine levels nad decreased dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in primary autism.Archives of General Psychiatry, 34, 553–556.
Mefford, I. N., Ward, M. M., Miles, L., Taylor, B., Chesney, M. A., Keegan, D. L., & Barchas, J. D. (1981). Determination of plasma catecholamines and free 3,4-dihydroxyphenolacetic acid in continuously colected human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.Life Sciences, 28, 477–483.
Pare, C. M. B., Sandler, M., & Stacey, R. S. (1960). 5-Hydroxyindoles in mental deficiency.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 23, 341–346.
Partington, M. W., Tu, J. B., & Wong, C. Y. (1973). Blood serotonin levels in severe mental retardation.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 15, 616–627.
Perry, B. D., Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., Wainwright, M. S., & Freedman, D. X. (1989). Platelet 5-HT2 receptor binding sites in autistic children and their first-degree relatives. (submitted).
Ritvo, E. R., Yuwiler, A., Geller, E., Ornitz, E. M., Saeger, K., & Plotkin, S. (1970). Increased blood serotonin and platelets in early infantile autism.Archives of General Psychiatry, 23, 566–572.
Ritvo, E. R., Jorde, L. B., Mason-Brothers, A., Freeman, B. J., Pingree, C., Jones, M. B., Mcmahon, W. M., Petersen, P. B., Jenson, W. R., & Mo, A. (1989). The UCLA-University of Utah epidemiologic survey of autism: Recurrence risk estimates and genetic counseling.American Journal of Psychiatry, 146, 1032–1036.
Schain, R. J., & Freedman, D. X. (1961). Studies on 5-hydroxyindole metabolism in autistic and other mentally retarded children,Journal of Pediatrics, 58, 315–320.
Yuwiler, A., Brammer, G. L., Morley, J. E., Raleigh, M. J., Flannery, J. W., & Geller, E. (1981). Short-term and repetitive administration of oral tryptophan in normal men—effects on blood tryptophan, serotonin, and kynurenine concentrations.Archives of General Psychiatry, 38, 619–626.
Yuwiler, A., Plotkin, S., Geller, E., & Ritvo, E. R. (1970). A rapid accurate procedure for the determination of serotonin in whole human blood.Biochemical Medicine, 3, 426–436.
Yuwiler, A., & Freedman, D. X. (1987). Neurotransmitter research in autism. In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.),Neurobiological issues in autism (pp. 263–284). New York: Plenum Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by the Freedman-Falk Academic Psychiatry Fund, the Harris Center for Developmental Studies, and NICCHD postdoctoral training grant #HDMC 5T32 HD07307-02 HCB. Local chapters of the National Society for Autistic Citizens provided assistance in subject recruitment. Emily Senay and Betty Kwong provided technical assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leventhal, B.L., Cook, E.H., Morford, M. et al. Relationships of whole blood serotonin and plasma norepinephrine within families. J Autism Dev Disord 20, 499–511 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02216055
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02216055