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A Twin Study of Human Red Blood Cell Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Leon Grunhaus ,
Richard Ebstein ,
Robert H. Belmaker ,
S. Gerald Sandler  and
Wulff Jonas
Leon Grunhaus
Affiliation:
Jerusalem Mental Health Centre
Richard Ebstein
Affiliation:
Jerusalem Mental Health Centre
Robert H. Belmaker
Affiliation:
Jerusalem Mental Health Centre, P.O.B. 140, Jerusalem
S. Gerald Sandler
Affiliation:
Blood Bank, Hadassah-Hebrew-University School of Medicine, Jerusalem
Wulff Jonas
Affiliation:
Now at the Prime Minister's Office for Research and Development, Jerusalem
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Summary

Significant sibling-sibling and within-family correlations of human red blood cell catechol-o-methyl transferase activity have suggested a high degree of genetic control over levels of activity of this catecholamine-related enzyme. However, family studies do not disentangle genetic from environmental similarities as causative of within-family correlations. We therefore undertook a human twin study using the monozygotic-dizygotic comparison method. Twelve pairs of monozygotic twins had an intraclass correlation of .90 in red blood cell catechol-o-methyl transferase activity, and seven pairs of dizygotic twins had an intraclass correlation of .37. Heritability of the enzyme activity was estimated by different methods as between 68–100 per cent.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 128 , Issue 5 , May 1976 , pp. 494 - 498
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1976 

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