Brain volumes and Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene: local or global effects?
A common Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) gene coding the Val66Met substitution in the pro-BDNF protein has been associated with a number of behavioural and neuroanatomical phenotypes; the latter include, for example, regional differences in volumes of the hippocampus and prefrontal grey matter. Here, we show that the observed regional differences may not stem from a localised effect of this gene. Our analysis of regional brain volume in a cohort of 331 adolescents indicates that the Val66Met substitution has a global effect on brain volume, and that the observed local differences are to be expected if brain allometry-the covariance pattern of regional brain volumes-is taken into account.
Toro
Roberto
R
Brain and Body Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. rto@pasteur.fr
Chupin
Marie
M
Garnero
Line
L
Leonard
Gabriel
G
Perron
Michel
M
Pike
Bruce
B
Pitiot
Alain
A
Richer
Louis
L
Veillette
Suzanne
S
Pausova
Zdenka
Z
Paus
Tomás
T
D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics; D009929:Organ Size; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D011498:Protein Precursors; C426674:brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine