TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of serotonin receptor 2A His452Tyr polymorphism on brain temporal structures
T2 - A volumetric MR study
AU - Filippini, Nicola
AU - Scassellati, Catia
AU - Boccardi, Marina
AU - Pievani, Michela
AU - Testa, Cristina
AU - Bocchio-Chiavetto, Luisella
AU - Frisoni, Giovanni B.
AU - Gennarelli, Massimo
PY - 2006/4
Y1 - 2006/4
N2 - Serotonin (5-HT) receptors 2A are expressed in brain regions involved in memory and learning processes. Recently, a functional single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5-HT2A receptor gene leading to an amino-acid substitution at residue 452 (His452Tyr) has been involved in memory performance, persons with the rare 452Tyr allele showing poorer memory performance compared to His452His subjects. To investigate a putative structural effect of this polymorphism on temporal areas typically involved in memory processes, we performed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and region-of-interest (ROI) volumetric analysis on high-resolution magnetic resonance images in 15 carriers and 61 noncarriers of the 452Tyr allele. ROI volumetric analysis showed a significant reduction of the fractional volume of the temporal white matter in 452Tyr carriers (0.67±0.07 vs 0.73±0.08; P=0.007). VBM confirmed this finding and in addition showed reduced grey matter in the left hippocampus, left inferior temporal gyrus, and bilaterally in the middle and superior temporal gyrus. A possible effect on synaptic plasticity or neurodevelopment might explain the influence of the His452Tyr polymorphism on temporal brain structures, and this might be the basis for poorer memory performance in 452Tyr carriers. These findings should be considered preliminary and future replication is needed.
AB - Serotonin (5-HT) receptors 2A are expressed in brain regions involved in memory and learning processes. Recently, a functional single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5-HT2A receptor gene leading to an amino-acid substitution at residue 452 (His452Tyr) has been involved in memory performance, persons with the rare 452Tyr allele showing poorer memory performance compared to His452His subjects. To investigate a putative structural effect of this polymorphism on temporal areas typically involved in memory processes, we performed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and region-of-interest (ROI) volumetric analysis on high-resolution magnetic resonance images in 15 carriers and 61 noncarriers of the 452Tyr allele. ROI volumetric analysis showed a significant reduction of the fractional volume of the temporal white matter in 452Tyr carriers (0.67±0.07 vs 0.73±0.08; P=0.007). VBM confirmed this finding and in addition showed reduced grey matter in the left hippocampus, left inferior temporal gyrus, and bilaterally in the middle and superior temporal gyrus. A possible effect on synaptic plasticity or neurodevelopment might explain the influence of the His452Tyr polymorphism on temporal brain structures, and this might be the basis for poorer memory performance in 452Tyr carriers. These findings should be considered preliminary and future replication is needed.
KW - 5-HT2A receptor
KW - Hys452Tyr
KW - MR
KW - Neuroimaging
KW - Temporal structures
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U2 - 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201573
DO - 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201573
M3 - Article
C2 - 16434999
AN - SCOPUS:33646166313
VL - 14
SP - 443
EP - 449
JO - European Journal of Human Genetics
JF - European Journal of Human Genetics
SN - 1018-4813
IS - 4
ER -