Showing papers by "Arno G. Motulsky published in 1972"

A biochemical and genetic approach to alcoholism.

Abstract: The proverbial “man in the street” is certain to assert that there are striking differences between individuals in tolerance for alcohol and susceptibility to its effects. It is known that the inebriating effects of alcohol are related to the blood ethanol concentration. The acute metabolic consequences of ethanol in the liver have been studied in some detail, but the metabolic nature of tolerance and cellular adaptation in the central nervous system (CNS) remains obscure.’ For both acute and chronic effects of drinking there are surprisingly few studies on the individual differences so intuitively perceived. Using clinical and pharmacological criteria, alcoholism may be defined as a behavioral disorder in which excessive drinking leads to tolerance, physical dependence, bodily injury, and social opprobrium. For those interested in the biological bases of behavior, alcoholism is a potentially fruitful research problem because the precipitating agent is known and there are millions of affected individuals. TABLE 1 lists several levels at which genetic factors may be expected to play a role in the tctal picture of alcohol use. Susceptibility to intoxicating effects comprises CNS responsiveness and subjective psychological factors, plus possible differences in the metabolism of ethanol. The relationship between acute reponse to alcohol and development of tolerance and dependence is unclear. Are the metabolic processes in the nervous system that underlie cellular adaptation to addicting agents the same for alcohol, barbituates, and opiates? Or different? It is clear that personality factors are influenced by heredity. Somehow, the life experiences of an individual must be incorporated into the chemical processes of the brain. Do the long-term complications of alcoholism-cirrhosis of the liver, Korsakoff psychosis, chronic brain syndromes-occur randomly among alcoholics or only in particular subpopulations of those at risk? In considering such questions, it should be emphasized that the mechanisms underlying alcoholism might be highly heterogeneous, like the mechanism underlying anemia or mental retardation. Thus, metabolic processes leading to susceptibility to alcoholism might be different in different individuals.

Blood Coagulation Factors I, II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII in Twins

Abstract: Sources of variation in blood clotting factors I, II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII have been investigated in a series of adult male twin pairs. Estimates of components of variation are presented, t