Characterization of cognitive impairments and neurotransmitter changes in a novel transgenic mouse lacking Slc10a4.

An orphan member of the solute carrier (SLC) family SLC10, SLC10A4 has been found to be enriched in midbrain and brainstem neurons and has been found to co-localize with and to affect dopamine (DA) homeostasis. We generated an SLC10A4 knockout mouse (Slc10a4(Δ/Δ)) using Cre-targeted recombination, and characterized behavioral measures of motor and cognitive function as well as DA and acetylcholine (ACh) levels in midbrain and brainstem. In agreement with previous studies, Slc10a4 mRNA was preferentially expressed in neurons in the brains of wild-type (Slc10a4(+/+)) mice and was enriched in dopaminergic and cholinergic regions. Slc10a4(Δ/Δ) mice had no impairment in motor function or novelty-induced exploratory behaviors but performed significantly worse in measures of spatial memory and cognitive flexibility. Slc10a4(Δ/Δ) mice also did not differ from Slc10a4(+/+) in measures of anxiety. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measures on tissue punches taken from the dorsal and ventral striatum reveal a decrease in DA content and a corresponding increase in the metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), indicating an increase in DA turnover. Punches taken from the brainstem revealed a decrease in ACh as compared with Slc10a4(+/+) littermates. Together, these data indicate that loss of SLC10A4 protein results in neurotransmitter imbalance and cognitive impairment.

African-American suicide: a cultural paradox.

African-American suicide rates have traditionally been lower than White rates despite a legacy of racial discrimination, persistent poverty, social isolation, and lack of community resources. This paper focuses on four issues: (1) patterns and trends of Black suicide across the lifespan; (2) risk and protective factors in subgroups of Blacks; (3) the influence of cultural factors on suicide patterns of Blacks; and (4) implications of these patterns for prevention and early intervention of suicidal behavior among African Americans. Risk factors for Black suicide include: male sex, early adulthood, substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, family or interpersonal conflict, antisocial behavior, and homosexuality. Protective factors that mitigate the risks of suicide include religiosity, older age, southern residence, and social support. Implications for preventive policies and programs are discussed to counter the recent trend of rising suicide rates among adolescents and very elderly Blacks.

Mental health and well-being of black women: toward strategies of empowerment.

This review of the literature on Black women's mental health has three goals: 1) to describe the mental health issues, needs, and adaptive behaviors of Black women; 2) to discuss the research, intervention, and public policy efforts of mental health professionals and Black women's groups to address the multiple needs of this population; and 3) to identify effective strategies by which community psychologists can improve the mental health status of Black women through efforts to reduce their environmental stressors, to increase their resources and access to services, and to facilitate their empowerment in American society. The authors propose a number of recommendations to improve Black women's mental health, including changes in research paradigms, changes in education and training programs, and the development of culturally competent service delivery systems.

Patterns of adolescent psychiatric hospitalization: implications for social policy.

Demographic and institutional patterns of psychiatric inpatient treatment of adolescents in California in 1987 were analyzed with a focus on the roles of funding sources, ethnicity, and age in access to care, type of institutionalization, and length of stay. Privately insured white youths were found to be overrepresented in private psychiatric hospitals, while minority youths were underrepresented in private hospitals and overrepresented in juvenile detention facilities. Implications for policy issues are discussed.

Cholinergic muscarinic receptor blockade with pirenzepine abolishes slow wave sleep-related growth hormone release in young patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Cholinergic receptor blockade has been shown to abolish GH secretion in a variety of physiological and pharmacological situations in normal subjects. We have investigated the effect of pirenzepine on nocturnal GH secretion in young adult patients with Type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Five patients (three male, two female; aged 20-27 years) were studied in a randomized order on two days separated by at least 1 week. All patients showed episodes of slow wave sleep on each occasion and this was followed by peaks of GH release when placebo alone was administered (range of GH peaks 6-115 mU/l). In contrast, cholinergic muscarinic receptor blockade with pirenzepine (100 mg orally at 2200 and 2400 h) completely abolished nocturnal GH release in each individual without altering the occurrence of slow wave sleep itself. Mean plasma glucose levels at each sampling time between each study did not differ significantly. The ability to abolish nocturnal GH secretion may be important in the field of diabetes, since excess GH secretion is implicated in several acute metabolic and chronic microvascular complications of the disease.

Cholinergic muscarinic receptor blockade with pirenzepine abolishes slow wave sleep-related growth hormone release in normal adult males.

Cholinergic pathways play an important role in the regulation of GH secretion from the anterior pituitary gland, and in this study we have investigated whether cholinergic muscarinic receptor blockade with pirenzepine displayed any inhibitory action on slow wave sleep-related GH release in normal subjects. Six adult males (ages 24-37 years) were studied in a randomized order and fasted from 1800 h on each study day. All subjects showed episodes of slow wave sleep on each occasion and this was followed by peaks of GH release when placebo alone was administered (range of GH peaks 4-50 mU/l). In contrast, pirenzepine treatment (100 mg p.o. at 2200 and 2400 h) completely abolished nocturnal GH release in each individual without altering the occurrence of slow wave sleep itself. These data demonstrate clearly that cholinergic muscarinic receptor blockade completely abolishes slow wave sleep-related GH release in normal adult subjects. Because of the striking effects it is reasonable to conclude that acetylcholine plays an important stimulatory role in mediating slow wave sleep-related GH release. This finding may have investigational and therapeutic applications in young patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus since GH is implicated in some acute metabolic and chronic microvascular complications of this disease.

Psychosocial factors associated with depression in urban adolescent females: Implications for assessment.

The major goals of this research were (1) to determine the incidence of depression in a nonclinical sample of urban adolescent females and (2) to identify demographic, sociocultural, and behavioral factors related to depression in this group. A racially and socioeconomically heterogeneous sample of 116 adolescent girls was recruited from public high schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Measures used were the Beck Depression Inventory, the Mooney Problem Check-List, and a brief demographic questionnaire. Depression was found to be significantly related to parental occupation, geographical mobility, and number of self-reported problems. Implications for assessment are discussed.

Personality patterns of delinquent females: ethnic and sociocultural variations.

Identified personality patterns of delinquent females and determined the relationship of ethnicity and socioeconomic status to delinquent personality patterns. A sample of 48 white, black and Hispanic adjudicated delinquents, aged 13-18, of three SES levels, was obtained from a suburban Bay Area probation department. Ss were administered the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines, the Rorschach and the WAIS or WISC-R. Analysis of test profiles revealed four "personality patterns:" Borderline (N = 7), antisocial (N = 14), neurotic (N = 18) and socialized delinquent (N = 9). Personality patterns differed significantly among ethnic and SES groups. White delinquents were more likely to be neurotic than blacks or Hispanics. Middle-class delinquents were more likely to be neurotic than lower-class delinquents. Implications of the results are discussed in terms of the assessment and treatment of female delinquents, particularly the need to match treatment interventions to specific delinquent personality patterns.

Depression and suicidal behavior among delinquent females.

Depressive symptomatology and suicidal behavior were evaluated in a multiethnic sample of 48 delinquent females through ratings on self-reports and probation officers' reports. Psychological functioning of the subjects was also evaluated through the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines, the Rorschach, and the WAIS or WISC-R in order to identify delinquent personality patterns. Four personality patterns were identified: the borderline, the antisocial, the neurotic, and the socialized delinquent personalities. A chi-square analysis of the data demonstrated that level of depression and frequency of suicidal behavior were both significantly related to personality patterns. Level of depression was also significantly related to ethnicity, but not to socioeconomic status. The results have implications for assessment and treatment of delinquent females and also raise issues concerning the interaction of personality, cultural factors, and delinquent behavior which should be addressed in future research with larger, socioculturally diverse samples.

Use of mental health services by black students at a predominantly white university: A three-year study.

During three academic years, 87 black students were counseled at the mental health clinic of a private western university. Their pattern of clinic use was compared with that of white students, and differences and similarities delineated in presenting problems, symptoms syndromes, and duration and termination of treatment. Knowledge of these problems and patternsmay aid mental health professionals; as well as college counselors and administration in planning adequate support services for minority students.