Testosterone levels and androgen receptor gene polymorphism predict specific symptoms of depression in young men.
BACKGROUND
Testosterone (T) has been hypothesized to modulate the expression of depressive symptoms in men; however, support for this proposition is mixed.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate bioavailable T, measured from saliva, and androgen receptor gene (AR) polymorphism (the number of glutamine [CAG] repeats in exon 1 of AR) and their relation to discrete symptoms of depression in 150 men aged 17 to 27 years who varied in mood status from depressed to nondepressed.


METHODS
Participants completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Principal components analysis of the scales identified 5 factors: Negative Affect, Social/Evaluative, Cognitive, Sleep, and Appetite.


RESULTS
Across the sample as a whole, higher ratings on sleep symptoms of depression were predicted by lower T concentrations and shorter CAG lengths. The association between T, CAG length, and sleep symptoms was confirmed among the subgroup of men who reported moderate to severe depression. In this subgroup, CAG repeats and T concentrations also emerged as significant predictors of negative affect scores, with the number of CAG repeats making the primary contribution.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that androgens may influence specific symptoms of depression in men.
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, Canada. jsankar@uwo.ca
Janani S
JS
Sankar
Elizabeth
E
Hampson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone