ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association between monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism and major depression in Chinese Han population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction was used to genotype MAOA VNTR polymorphism. A total of 512 major depression patients and 566 normal controls were recruited in our study. These patients were also assessed using the 14-item Hamilton anxiety scale. RESULTS The allele frequency of MAOA VNTR was not significantly different between the male/female major depression patients and the normal controls. Compared with the normal controls, MAOA VNTR genotype was significantly more frequent in female major depression patients (P=0.002), but not in male patients (P=0.17). MAOA VNTR-L carrier was also associated with "fear" symptom in female patients (P=0.0056).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MAOA gene is associated with the major depression in Chinese Han population, especially among female patients.</p>