ELSEVIER Atherosclerosis 122 ( 1996) I I7 125 atherosclerosis Genetic correlations between lipoprotein phenotypes and indicators of sex hormone levels in Mexican Americans Cashell E. Jaquish”,*, Michael C. Mahaney”, John Blangero”, Steven M. Haffner’, Michael P. Stern’, Jean W. MacCluer” Abstract Previous studies have shown that the inverse relationship between HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, is due largely to the effects of shared genes. HDL-C and TG are also known to be related to endogenous sex hormone levels, however the nature of the relationships is unclear. The objective of this study is to ascertain the extent to which these relationships are determined by shared genes. We conducted a multivariate quantitative genetic analysis of HDL-C, TG, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in 635 people from 27 pedigrees participating in the San Antonio Family Heart Study. Heritabilities (/I’) and genetic and environmental correlations (/I~; and f+) were estimated simulta- neously by maximum likelihood methods. All four traits showed significant (P < 0.05) heritabilities: /I&.(. = 0.38, h& = 0.54, lzhHEAs = 0.43 and II;,,,; = 0.26. Significant genetic correlations were detected between HDL and each of the other traits: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ = - 0.56, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ = 0.23 and /I~(~,,~.~,,~(;, = - 0.56. However, there were no significant genetic correlations between TG and either measure of sex hormones. Thus, at least three separate groups of genes influence HDL-C levels in Mexican Americans: one group that has pleiotropic effects on HDL and TG, one group influences both HDL-C and SHBG and a third influences both HDL-C and DHEAS. Kqw~wd.~: Genetics; High-density lipoprotein cholesterol: Triglycerides: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; Sex hor- mone-binding globulin 1. Introduction * Corresponding author. Tel.: + I 210 674 1410. ext. 394: Fax: + I 210 670 3317: e-mail: cashellj@darwin.sfbr.org. In populations where coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major health problem, the incidence is much higher in men than in women [l]. This is particularly true of middle-aged men in industrial- ized nations. These men have higher triglyceride 0021-9150/96! Sl5.00 Cm 1996 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved PII SO02 I-9 I i0(96)05796-6