OBJECTIVETo detect the relationship between heroin dependence and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene.

METHODSGenotype and allele frequencies of 108 val/met and 900 Ins C/Del C polymorphisms of COMT gene were examined in 313 heroin-dependent subjects and 214 normal controls.

RESULTSNo differences in genotype and allele frequencies of 108 val/met polymorphism of COMT gene were observed between heroin-dependent subjects and normal controls (genotype-wise: chi-square=1.67, P=0.43; allele-wise: chi-square=1.23, P=0.27). No differences in genotype and allele frequencies of 900 Ins C/Del C polymorphism of COMT gene were observed between heroin-dependent subjects and normal controls (genotype-wise: chi-square=3.73, P=0.16; allele-wise: chi-square=0.76, P=0.38).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that neither 108 val/met polymorphism nor 900 Ins C/Del C polymorphism of COMT gene was associated with heroin dependence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; DNA ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Heroin Dependence ; enzymology ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Deletion

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes and actions of neuronal constructive nitric oxide synthase(ncNOS) in heroin drug abuse. METHODS: The expression of ncNOS and ncNOS mRNA in neurons of cerebral cortex, periaqueductal gray matter and the ventral tegmental area was observed by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and image analysis technique after heroin dependence and spontaneous withdrawal in rats. RESULTS: The quantity of ncNOS and ncNOS mRNA rised clearly and the number of ncNOS and ncNOS mRNA positive cells increased greatly in heroin dependence and withdrawal. The changes of ncNOS and ncNOS mRNA in spontaneous withdrawal were more clear than ones of dependence. Heroin dependence and withdrawal led to alterations in ncNOS and ncNOS mRNA expression in important regions implicated in the physical tolerance and dependence. CONCLUSION The ncNOS plays an important role in heroin dependence and withdrawal. The ncNOS immunohistochemical changes observed in the present study might be useful for the forensic pathological diagnosis of heroin drug abuse.
Animals ; Cerebral Cortex/enzymology* ; Forensic Medicine ; Heroin Dependence/enzymology* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neurons/enzymology* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome/enzymology*

OBJECTIVETo detect the relationship between heroin-dependence and -287 A/G polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene.

METHODSGenotype and allele frequencies of -287 A/G polymorphism of COMT gene were examined in 268 heroin-dependent subjects and 177 normal controls.

RESULTSWeak but significant difference in genotype of -287 A/G polymorphism of COMT gene was observed between heroin-dependent subjects and controls (chi(2)=7.41, P=0.025), and genotype AA was higher in the former. The frequency of allele A of -287 A/G polymorphism of COMT gene was also significantly higher in heroin-dependent subjects than in the controls (chi(2)=5.69, P=0.017).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that liability to heroin-dependence was associated with -287 A/G polymorphism of COMT gene.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; DNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Heroin Dependence ; enzymology ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics