COMT Gene Infl uences Disposition to the Alcoholism in
Men of the Czech Republic
Šerý O., Hladilová R., Zvolský P.*
Laboratoř neurobiologie a molekulární psychiatrie, Katedra srovnávací fyziologie živočichů a obecné zoologie, Přírodovědecká fakulta MU, Brno, vedoucí katedry prof. RNDr. V. Šimek, CSc. Psychiatrická klinika 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha, přednosta prof. MUDr. J. Raboch, DrSc.* |
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Summary:
Genetic aspects of disposition to alcohol dependence in a relationship with dopamine system have
been frequently studied in the last 15 years. Catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) is an enzyme
involved in the metabolism of dopamine, serotonin and noradrenalin. Val158Met polymorphism of
COMT gene was previously associated with enzyme activity, with alcoholism etc. In our association
study, we studied a relationship between Val158Met polymorphism of COMT gene and alcoholism
on the group of 799 subjects. We found a statistically signifi cant difference in allelic and genotype
frequencies between male alcoholics and male controls. Our results proved the relationship between
Val158Met polymorphism of COMT gene and alcoholism in male part of population of the Czech
Republic.
Key words:
alcoholism, COMT, association study, polymorphism, PCR.
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