Abstract
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the tryptamine metabolite, indoleacetic acid (IAA), have been measured in groups of autistic and control subjects. No significant difference was seen in group mean (±SEM) levels of CSF IAA (autistics 5.53±0.47 ng/ml, N=10). The finding indicates that central metabolism of the behaviorally active trace amine tryptamine is probably normal in autism.
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Supported by the Stallone Fund for Autism Research, the MacArthur Foundation and U.S. Public Health Service grants MHCRC M30929 and HD-03008.
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Anderson, G.M., Ross, D.L., Klykylo, W. et al. Cerebrospinal fluid indoleacetic acid in autistic subjects. J Autism Dev Disord 18, 259–262 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02211951
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02211951