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The effect of a functional NOS1 promoter polymorphism on impulsivity is moderated by platelet MAO activity

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Abstract

Rationale

Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity is associated with impulsivity in clinical samples. Recently, a functional promoter polymorphism of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) termed NOS1 ex1f-VNTR was found to have an effect on impulsivity-related traits and resulting psychopathology.

Objective

The study aims to explore the effect of both platelet MAO activity and NOS1 ex1f-VNTR genotype on impulsivity in a population-derived sample.

Methods

This study was on a non-clinical sample of adult male subjects, previously used to investigate the effect of platelet MAO activity on impulsivity-related behaviour (Paaver et al., Psychopharmacology 186:32–40, 2006). Six hundred thirty-seven male subjects were genotyped for the NOS1 ex1f-VNTR promoter polymorphism. Impulsivity was self-reported. Effects of age and smoking, known to affect platelet MAO activity, were controlled for.

Results

No main effect of either NOS1 genotype or platelet MAO activity was present. However, significant interactions were found between effects of the NOS1 genotype and platelet MAO activity on impulsivity measures. Impulsivity and in particular the aspects of adaptive impulsivity (e.g. fast decision-making and excitement-seeking behaviour) were higher in subjects with the NOS1 ex1f-VNTR short/short genotype if they belonged to the platelet MAO medium activity (interquartile) range.

Conclusions

This study supports evidence for higher impulsivity in the NOS1 short/short genotype subjects and further suggests that this is present in the subset of subjects who have close to average platelet MAO activity.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Science (grant 0180027) and the Estonian Road Administration to Harro J, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (RE1632/1-1 and 1-3 to Reif A, KFO 125 to Reif A and Lesch KP, SFB TRR 58 to Reif A and Lesch KP, SFB 581 Visiting Professor grant to Harro J), Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (IZKF Würzburg, 01KS9603 to Lesch KP, 01GV0605 to Lesch KP; IZKF N-27-N to Reif A and Herterich S) and the European Commission (NEWMOOD LSHM-CT-2003-503474, to Lesch KP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tiigi 78, 50410, Tartu, Estonia

    Kariina Laas & Jaanus Harro

  2. Clinical and Molecular Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Andreas Reif & Klaus-Peter Lesch

  3. Central Laboratory, Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Sabine Herterich

  4. Department of Public Health, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia

    Diva Eensoo

  5. Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tiigi 78, 50410, Tartu, Estonia

    Jaanus Harro

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  1. Kariina Laas
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  2. Andreas Reif
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Correspondence to Jaanus Harro.

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Laas, K., Reif, A., Herterich, S. et al. The effect of a functional NOS1 promoter polymorphism on impulsivity is moderated by platelet MAO activity. Psychopharmacology 209, 255–261 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1793-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1793-z

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