Norepinephrine metabolite in CSF correlates with ethanol consumption and heredity in humans

Previous studies showed that in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) the concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG), the main metabolite of norepinephrine (NE), was positively correlated with blood ethanol concentrations in both healthy volunteers and in alcoholics. In this preliminary study we have extended those results by correlating MHPG concentrations in CSF with reported ethanol consumption and other indices of alcohol problems before and after consumption of 60-120 g of ethanol. MHPG in CSF correlates negatively with reported ethanol consumption, presence of first-degree relatives with alcohol problems, and presence of memory lapses, and correlates positively with age and the amount of ethanol consumed in the experiment. These results suggest that MHPG may indicate not only a high alcohol consumption but also a familial or genetic predisposition for alcoholism.