title: Impact of estrogen receptor α gene and oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms on female sexuality.
abstract: Over the past decades, research attention has increasingly been paid to the neurobiological component of sexual behavior. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation of estrogen receptor α (ERA) gene polymorphism (rs2234693-PvuII) (T→C substitution) and oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism (rs53576) (G→A substitution) with sexuality parameters of young, healthy women. One hundred thirty-three Greek heterosexual women, students in higher education institutions, 20-25 years of age, sexually active, with normal menstrual cycles (28-35 days), were recruited in the study. Exclusion criteria were chronic and/or major psychiatric diseases, use of oral contraceptive pills (OCs), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid diseases as well as drugs that are implicated in hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. T allele (wildtype) of rs2234693 (PvuII) polymorphism of ERA gene was correlated with increased levels of arousal and lubrication, whereas A allele (polymorphic) of rs53576 (OXTR) polymorphism was correlated with increased arousal levels. The simultaneous presence of both T allele of rs2234693 (PvuII) and A allele of rs53576 (OXTR) polymorphisms (T + A group) was correlated with increased arousal, orgasm levels as well as female sexual function index full score. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the interaction between ERA and OXTR with regard to sexual function in women. Female sexuality is a complex behavioral trait that encompasses both biological and psychological components. It seems that variability in female sexual response stems from genetic variability that characterizes endocrine, neurotransmitter and central nervous system influences.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive EndocrinologyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Armeni
authors.affiliation: Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Assimakopoulos
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive EndocrinologyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marioli
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive EndocrinologyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koika
authors.affiliation: Department of BiologyUniversity of Patras, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Euthychia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Michaelidou
authors.affiliation: Department of BiologyUniversity of Patras, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mourtzi
authors.affiliation: Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Gregoris
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iconomou
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive EndocrinologyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece neoklisg@hol.gr.
authors.forename: Neoklis A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Georgopoulos
keywords: estrogen receptor α gene polymorphism; female sexuality; oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism