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Neuropediatrics 1980; 11(3): 250-255
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1071393
Original articles

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

ESTIMATION OF MONOAMINE AND CYCLIC-AMP TURNOVER AND AMINOACID CONCENTRATIONS OF SPINAL FLUID IN AUTISTIC CHILDREN1

B. G. Winsberg1 , J.  Sverd1 , S.  Castells2 , M.  Hurwic3 , J. M. Perel3
  • 1Child Psychiatry Evaluation Research Unit of the New York State, Dept. of Mental Hygiene and the Division of Child Psychiatry, Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA
  • 2Unit of Growth and Metabolism, Dept. of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA
  • 3Dept. of Biological Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA
1 This work was supported by Grants from the Clinical Research Centers Program of the Research Resources National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

A group of autistic children had the concentrations of spinal fluid 5-HIAA, HVA and cAMP studied before and twenty-four hours after afflux blockade with probenecid. Spinal fluid aminoacids were studied before probenecid administration and found to be normal. Three children lacked an increase in the concentration of 5-HIAA after probenecid administration, and two had only modest increases in the concentration of spinal fluid HVA. The concentration of spinal fluid cAMP was increased by probenecid administration in all eight children.
These findings suggest an abnormality in monoamine metabolism in a small group of autistic children.

Key words

Monoamines - serotonin - dopamine - 5-HIAA - HVA - cAMP - aminoacids - probenecid - spinal fluid - autism - mental retardation