Abstract
A study was designed to determine if blood serotonin concentrations could be lowered in autistic children by the administration of L-dopa and, if so, to observe possible clinical or physiological changes. Following a 17-day placebo period, four hospitalized autistic boys (3, 4, 9, and 13 years of age) received L-dopa for 6 months. Results indicated a significant decrease of blood serotonin concentrations in the three youngest patients, a significant increase in platelet counts in the youngest patient, and a similar trend in others. Urinary excretion of 5HIAA decreased significantly in the 4-year-old patient and a similar trend was noted in others. No changes were observed in the clinical course of the disorder, the amount of motility disturbances (hand-flapping), percent of REM sleep time, or in measures of endocrine function (FSH and LH). Possible mechanisms by which L-dopa lowered blood serotonin concentrations, increased platelet counts, and yet failed to produce other changes are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aug, R. G., & Billie, S. A. A clinician's guide to childhood psychosis.Pediatrics, 1971,47, 327–337.
Boullin, D. J., Coleman, M., & O'Brien, R. A. Abnormalities in platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine efflux in patients with infantile autism.Nature, 1970,226, 371–372.
Boullin, D. J., & O'Brien, R. A. Accumulation of dopamine by blood platelets from normal subjects and parkinsonian patients under treatment with L-dopa.British Journal of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy, 1970,39, 779–788.
DaPrada, M., & Pletscher, A. Storage of exogenous monoamines and reserpine in 5-hydroxytryptamine organelles of blood platelets.European Journal of Pharmacology, 1969,7, 45–48.
Kales, A., Kales, J., Sly, R., Scharf, M., Tan, T., & Preston, T. Sleep patterns of asthmatic children: All night EEG studies.Journal of Allergy, 1970,46, 300–308.
Kales, A., Ritvo, E. R., Scharf, M. B., Tan, T. L., & Preston, T. Effects of L-dopa on the sleep of autistic children.Psychophysiology, 1971 (in press).
Korf, J., & Valkenburgh-Sikkema, T. Fluorimetric determination of 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid in human urine and cerebrospinal fluid.Clinica Chimica Acta, 1969,26, 301–305.
Ornitz, E. M., & Ritvo, E. R. Perceptual inconstancy in early infantile autism.Archives of General Psychiatry, 1968,18, 76–98.
Ornitz, E. M., Ritvo, E. R., Panman, L. M., Lee, Y. H., Carr, E. M., & Walter, R. D. The auditory evoked response in normal and autistic children during sleep.Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 1968,25, 221–230.
Ornitz, E. M., Ritvo, E. R., & Walter, R. D. Dreaming sleep in autistic and schizophrenic children.American Journal of Psychiatry, 1965,122, 419–424.
Rimland, B.Infantile autism. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1964.
Ritvo, E. R., Ornitz, E. M., Eviatar, A., Markham, C. H., Brown, M. B., & Mason, A. Decreased postrotatory nystagmus in early infantile autism.Neurology, 1969,19, 653–658.
Ritvo, E. R., Yuwiler, A., Geller, E., Ornitz, E. M., Saeger, K., & Plotkin, S. Increased blood serotonin and platelets in early infantile autism.Archives of General Psychiatry, 1970,23, 566–572.
Ritvo, E. R., Yuwiler, A., Geller, E., Plotkin, S., & Mason, A. Maturational changes in blood serotonin levels and platelet counts.Biochemical Medicine, 1971 (in press).
Rutter, M. The influence of organic and emotional factors on the origins, nature, and outcome of childhood psychosis.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 1965,7, 518.
Rutter, M. Concepts of autism.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1968,9, 1–25.
Sawyer, C., & Gorski, R. (Ed.),Steroid hormones and brain function. Forum in Medical Sciences 14, University of California Press. Berkeley: 1971.
Schain, R. J., & Freedman, D. X. Studies on 5-hydroxyindole metabolism in autistic and other mentally retarded children.Journal of Pediatrics, 1961,58, 315–320.
Schott, H. B., & Clark, W. DOPA decarboxylase inhibition through the interaction of coenzyme and substrate.Journal of Biochemistry, 1952,196, 449.
Sorosky, A. C., Ornitz, E. M., Brown, M. B., & Ritvo, E. R. Systematic observations of autistic behavior.Archives of General Psychiatry, 1968,18, 439–449.
Weigand, R., & Perry, J. Effects of L-dopa, N-methyl N-benzyl-2 propynlamine HCl on DOPA, DOPAmine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels in mouse brain.Biochemical Pharmacology, 1961,1, 181–186.
Wing, J.Early infantile autism. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1966.
Yuwiler, A., Geller, E., & Eiduson, S. Studies on 5-hydroxytryptophane decarboxylase. I.in vitro inhibition and substrate interactions.Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 1959,80, 162–173.
Yuwiler, A., Plotkin, S., Geller, E., & Ritvo, E. R. A rapid accurate procedure for the determination of serotonin in whole human blood.Biochemical Medicine, 1970,3, 426–436.
Zarcone, V., Kales, A., Scharf, M., Tan, T., Simmons, J., Barchas, J., & Dement, W. The effects of chronic oral ingestion of 5HTP on physiology and blood levels of 5-HT in two schizophrenic children.Psychophysiology, 1970,7, 319.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by grants from the Veteran's Administration Research Service; Public Health Research Grants HD 01-58 and AM 08775; National Institute of Health Grant RR-3 to the Health Sciences Computer Facility, UCLA; The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant 04612 from the Mental Retardation Center, UCLA; and by the Department of Mental Hygiene, State of California.
The authors wish to express their appreciation to Dr. Joseph Beckerman, Miss Ann Catino, Dr. Gunnar Heuser, Dr. Charles Markham, Miss Gwen McAfee, Miss Terry Preston, Dr. J. Raymond, Mr. Martin B. Scharf, and Dr. Tjiauw-Ling Tan for their assistance and participation in this study.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ritvo, E.R., Yuwiler, A., Geller, E. et al. Effects of L-dopa in autism. J Autism Dev Disord 1, 190–205 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537957
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537957