Serotonin 5‐HT1B receptor gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Chinese Han subjects

Serotonin is an endogenous neurotransmitter that regulates aggressive and impulsive behavior and may be involved in the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 5-HT1B knockout mice display hyperactivity, increased exploratory activity and aggression, reduced anxiety, increased vulnerability to cocaine self-administration, and elevated alcohol consumption. Many of these same behaviors are seen in patients with ADHD. Prior studies reported excess transmission of the 861G allele of 5-HT1B to ADHD offspring. We used the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and haplotype analysis to investigate the A-161T and G861C polymorphisms in the 5-HT1B receptor gene in ADHD trios from the Chinese Han population. We found no association with ADHD but did find a tendency for excess transmission of the 861G allele (chi(2) = 3.766, P = 0.052) and the G/A haplotype (chi(2) = 2.925, df = 1, P = 0.087), and under-transmission of C/A haplotype (chi(2) = 3.707, df = 1, P = 0.054) to offspring with inattentive ADHD.