title: Polymorphic variants of neurotransmitter receptor genes may affect sexual function in aging males: data from the HALS study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human behavior is influenced by a number of brain neurotransmitters. Central dopamine, serotonin and melanocortin systems have special importance for male sexual function. We searched for associations between male aging symptoms and polymorphic sites of serotonin (5-HTR1B), melanocortin (MC4R) and dopamine (DRD2, DRD4) receptors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a population-based sample, genotyping of 5-HTR1B (polymorphism: G861C), MC4R (polymorphisms: C-2745T, Val103Ile), DRD2 (polymorphism: C313T) and DRD4 (polymorphism: 48-bp VNTR) was performed in 387 healthy men. The Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale was used to evaluate specific ailments of aging men. We analyzed answers to questions from the AMS scale. Five points of the questionnaire addressed sexual symptoms of the aging male: feeling of passing one's peak, decrease in beard growth, decrease in ability/frequency to perform sexually, decrease in the number of morning erections, and decrease in sexual desire/libido (lacking pleasure in sex, lacking desire for sexual intercourse). Relations between reported symptoms and variants of the polymorphic sites of the studied genes were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for confounding factors (education, arterial hypertension, physical activity, weight, waist circumference) an association between the sexual dimension of AMS and genetic variants of 5-HTR1B G861C (p = 0.04) was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variability of neurotransmitter receptor genes may be associated with sexual symptoms of aging in men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University School of Physical Education, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jóźków
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Słowińska-Lisowska
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Łaczmański
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mędraś
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / Q000235:genetics*; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000235:genetics; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter