Catechol O-methyltransferase mRNA expression in human and rat brain: evidence for a role in cortical neuronal function

• Published in: Neuroscience Vol. 116; no. 1; pp. 127 - 137
• Main Authors: Matsumoto, M., Weickert, C.Shannon, Akil, M., Lipska, B.K., Hyde, T.M., Herman, M.M., Kleinman, J.E., Weinberger, D.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2003
• Subjects: Animals; Blotting, Northern; Brain Chemistry; Catechol O-Methyltransferase - analysis; Catechol O-Methyltransferase - genetics; Corpus Striatum - enzymology; dopamine; functional polymorphism; Humans; In Situ Hybridization; Male; Mesencephalon - enzymology; midbrain schizophrenia; Neurons - enzymology; prefrontal cortex; Prefrontal Cortex - enzymology; Prosencephalon - enzymology; Pyramidal Cells - enzymology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger - analysis; striatum; OCT; DLPFC; prefrontal cortex; midbrain schizophrenia; COMT; S-COMT; MB-COMT; striatum; TH; functional polymorphism; cDNA; dopamine; PCR; BA

Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) is involved in the inactivation of catecholamines, including the neurotransmitter dopamine. A Val 108/158 Met functional polymorphism of the COMT gene has been shown to affect working memory-associated frontal lobe function in humans. In the present study, in situ...