Neuropsycological gender differences in healthy individuals and in pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders. A role for SNAP-25.
Synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 KD (SNAP-25) is a protein that participates in synaptic vesicle exocytosis through the formation of a SNARE complex; SNAP-25 also plays a pivotal role in modulating calcium homeostasis through negative regulation of voltage-gated calcium channels. SNAP-25 has been involved in different neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There are well known physiological gender differences in many neuropsychological skills, and there are even more striking gender differences in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorders. We hypothesize that these differences are the result of a mechanism involving SNAP-25 polymorphisms and its differential expression in specific brain areas.
Ghezzo
Alessandro
A
Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS Foundation, Centro Bignamini, Falconara, AN, Italy.
Guerini
Franca R
FR
Bolognesi
Elisabetta
E
Matteoli
Michela
M
Manca
Salvatorica
S
Sotgiu
Stefano
S
Bejor
Maurizio
M
Clerici
Mario
M
Chiappedi
Matteo
M
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / Q000502:physiology*
C494208:SNAP25 protein, human; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25; D002118:Calcium