Effects of the val(158)met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism on olfactory processing in schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT: The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) val158met polymorphism has received attention in schizophrenia due to its role in prefrontal dopamine catabolism. Given the rich dopaminergic innervations of the olfactory bulb and the influence of dopamine on the transmission of olfactory signals, the authors examined the influence of COMT genotype status on the olfactory processing impairment observed in schizophrenia. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test was administered unirhinally to individuals with schizophrenia (n = 42) and a demographically matched sample of healthy controls (n = 30). Individuals were genotyped for the COMT val158met polymorphism. A statistically significant interaction of diagnosis and COMT genotype was observed, such that schizophrenia heterozygotes and

SUBMITTER: Kamath V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3269516 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature