Non-association of dopamine D4 and D2 receptor genes with personality in healthy individuals

Recently, different research groups reported conflicting results with regard to an association of dopamine 4 receptor (DRD4) genotypes and the personality dimension of novelty seeking (NS). High scores for NS seemed to be associated with long alleles of a DRD4 polymorphism. Furthermore, an association between personality traits and the dopamine 2 (DRD2) receptor gene was reported. NS and persistence (PS) high scores seemed to be associated with alleles of DRD2. We examined 109 (78 female and 31 male) normal healthy individuals using Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in order to replicate these findings. We genotyped a 48 base pair variable number of tandem repeats (from two to eight repeats) polymorphism in the third exon of DRD4 and a Cys311Ser polymorphism in exon 7 of DRD2. We tested alleles and genotypes of DRD4 (allele 7 absent or present; genotype 4,4 versus 4,7), and Ser / Cys and Cys / Cys genotypes of DRD2 for associations with TCI values. NS and the alleles and genotypes of DRD4 did not show any association. In associating the genotypes of DRD2 with TCI scales (NS, harm avoidance, reward dependence and PS), we also found no association. Recent findings associating NS with DRD4 could not be replicated. With regard to DRD2, we tested a different polymorphism as published recently and could not find an association of TCI scales with the gene. The present results therefore do not provide evidence that the DRD2 and DRD4 receptor genes contribute a common and relevant effect to personality traits. Psychiatr Genet 10:131-137 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.