title: Brain volumes and Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene: local or global effects?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Brain and Body Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. rto@pasteur.fr
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toro
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chupin
authors.forename: Line
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garnero
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perron
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pitiot
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richer
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veillette
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pausova
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paus
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D011498:Protein Precursors; C426674:brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine