Polymorphism of the DRD2 Gene in a Mexican Population with Mental Deviations

The important functions of dopamine (DA) in emotional behavior, control of voluntary movements, memory, and attention have been recognized. To date, the 939 C/T (rs6275) polymorphism of this gene has been implicated in association with alcohol and drug abuse and also with schizophrenia. We examined the allele frequencies of 939CT (rs6275) polymorphism of the DRD2 gene and those of the respective genotypes in a Mexican population (n = 166) with mental deviations and a history of suicide attempts and psychiatric diagnoses (101 suicidal individuals from Mexico City and 65 patients recruited from psychiatry outpatients of Tabasco, México). The most common allele found in both subpopulations was the T allele (about 60% and 69%, respectively). In addition to the Mexican population, the frequencies were compared with those in some Asian and American populations. Thus, a noticeable difference of the distribution of the 939 C/T (rs6275) was observed in patients with the above-mentioned mental deviations, as well as in the Asian population with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Future studies are necessary to evaluate mentally unhealthy populations to observe the role of the above polymorphism in the susceptibility to psychiatric diseases.