Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2026

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder
Published on: May 2, 2025
A functional polymorphism in the promoter of monoamine oxidase A gene and bipolar affective disorder
George Kirov1, Nadine Norton, Ian Jones
1Neuropsychiatric Genetics Unit, Tenovus Building, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, UK.
Abstract:
The genes encoding for the enzymes monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B are good candidates to investigate bipolar affective disorder. A 30 bp repeat in the MAOA promoter was recently demonstrated to be polymorphic and to affect transcriptional activity. In a family-based association design we found that none of the different repeat copies was preferentially transmitted from mothers (n = 131) to their children affected with bipolar disorder (chi(2) = 2.75, 4 d.f., p = 0.6). Following on our previous finding of an excess of low-activity genotypes of catechol-O-methyltransferase in patients with a rapid cycling form of illness, we examined for a similar trend with MAOA alleles. In an extended sample we found a non-significant trend for patients with an ultra-rapid cycling form of illness (n = 29) to have a higher frequency of low-activity alleles compared with 92 bipolar patients with a non-rapid cycling course of illness (chi(2) = 2.37, 1 d.f., p = 0.13).
Related Concept Videos
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Bipolar Disorder
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Pleiotropy
Genetic Lingo

