Concentrations of homovanillic Acid and gonadal hormones in the serum of male schizophrenic patients

The concentrations of serum homovanillic acid (HVA), luteinizing liormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) were examined in 20 male schizophrenic patients not taking neuroleptic drugs, 44 treated with neuroleptic drugs, and 15 male healthy control subjects. Kurskal-Wallis analysis of variance showed no significant difference among the three groups in serum HVA, FSH, LH or testosterone although high concentrations were found in tlte patients not taking neuroleptic drugs. There was a significant positive correlation between serum HVA and FSH in the patients not taking neuroleptics. The present results suggest that the change of gonadal hormones may be related to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.