한국인에 있어서 혈청 dopamine-β-hydroxylase(DBH)에 대한 유전적 양상을 알아 보기 위해 정상성인 327명에서 혈청 DBH활성도 및 thermostability를 측정한 결과 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 정상성인 327명의 평균혈청 DBH 활성도는 18.3 ± 4.5(SD)umol/min/l였으며 연령 및 성별에 따른 차이는 없었다. 2. 혈청 DBH활성도의 분포는 unimodol한 분포를 보였으며 매우 낮은 효소 활성도는 관찰할 수 없었다. 3. 정상성인 327명의 평균 thermostability index(H/C : heated-to-control)는 0.90 ± 0.17(SD) 이었으며 연령 및 성별에 따른 차이는 없었다. 4. H/C 비의 분포는 unimodal한 homogenous분포를 보였다. 5. 혈청 DBH 활성도와 thermosta bility 사이에는 유의한 역상관 관계가 있었다. (r=-0.39, p<0.01). 6. H/C 0.7 미만인 군의 평균 혈청 DBH 활성도는 22.2 ± 4.5(SD)umol/min/l 였으며 H/C 1.09이상인 군의 평균 혈청 DBH 활성도는 15.5 ± 33(SD)umol/min/l로서 유의한 차이가 있었다(P<0.01). 이상의 결과에서 정상 한국인에 있어서 혈청 DBH 활성도 및 thermostability의 분포 양상이 Caucasian과는 상당히 다른 점을 알 수 있었다.
Distributions of serum dopamine-β-hydroxylase(DBH) activity and thermostability in a randomly selected population of Korean adults were studied to investigate the genetic factor which could exert an influence on the serum DBH activity and thermostability. The results were followings: 1. The mean serum DBH activity in a randomly selected population of adults was 18.3 ± 4.5 umol/min/l(mean ± SD;n=327) which showed no age or sex variation. 2. The frequency distribution showed no isolated subgroup with very low serum DBH activity. 3. When the ratio of enzyme activity after heating 55˚C for 20 minutes to that before heating (heated-to-control or H/C ratio). was used as a measure of thermostability, the mean serum DBH H/C ratio in a randomly selecfld population, of adults was 0.90 ± 0.17(mean ± SD; n=327) which showed no age or sex variation. 4. Serum DBH H/C ratio showed unimodal, homogeneous distribution. 5. There was significant negative correlation between serum DBH activity and H/C ratio(r=-0.39. p<0.01). 6. Subjects with H/C ratio less than 0.1 had significantly higher basal enzyme activity (22.2 ± 4.5) (mean ± SD;n=33) umo1/min/1 than those with H/C ratio more than 1.09 (15.5 ± 3.3) (mean ± SD;n=32) umo1/min/1. This study shows that the distribution patterns of serum DBH activity and thermostability of Korean population are considerably different from those of Caucasian and it might be a line of evidence for the different inheritance pattern of plasma DBH enzyme between these racial groups.
