Polymorphism of dopamine transporter gene DAT1 and individual variability of defense cardiac response in humans.

We evaluated association of BP stress-reactivity on the model of cardiac defense response in 45-70-year-old men with variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism in genes encoding dopamine transporter protein (DAT1) and serotonin transporter protein (5-HTTLPR). It was found that individuals carrying long allele variant (l) of DAT1 gene (l/l: allele l homozygotes) in the genotype in comparison with short variant (s) carriers (heterozygous genotype l/s) demonstrate hyperreactive profiles of cardiovascular stress reactivity characterized by a significant increase in the amplitude and duration of long-latency BP components in cardiac defensive response.