Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Gonul, 2011 PubMed |
| Full Info | Gonul, A.S., Kitis, O., Eker, M.C., Eker, O.D., Ozan, E. and Coburn, K. (2011) Association of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism with hippocampus volumes in drug-free depressed patients. World J Biol Psychiatry, 12, 110-118.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Val66Met BDNF gene polymorphism is shown to affect the function of mature BDNF and mature BDNF plays an important role in the hippocampal neurogenesis and neuronal survival.
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| Sample Information | 33 MDD patients and 40 healthy controls |
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| Method Detail | A relationship of Val66Met BDNF gene polymorphism and hippocampal volumes in 33 MDD patients and 40 healthy controls is investigated. Region of interest analysis was conducted on the images acquired via MRI. |
| Method Keywords | magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); genotyping |
| Result | Depressed patients had smaller left hippocampal volumes compared to healthy controls. The diagnosis of MDD was not significantly related to hippocampal volumes among Met carriers; however, among Val homozygotes depressed patients had significantly smaller left hippocampal volumes compared to controls. Although both right and left hippocampal volumes showed nearly significant correlation with the duration of illness, this correlation reached (negative) significant levels only in the right hippocampal volume of the Val homozygotes. |
| Conclusions | Val homozygote genotype may serve as a vulnerability factor in MDD regarding hippocampal volume loss. This finding can be considered as a supportive evidence for the neurotrophic factor hypothesis of depression. |
Relationships reported by
Gonul, 2011
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
|
left hippocampus (left hippocampus)
|
brain morphology and function |
BDNF (Val66Met BDNF) |
gene |
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among Val homozygotes depressed patients had significantly smaller left hippocampal volumes compared to controls. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
left hippocampus (left hippocampus) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Depressed patients had smaller left hippocampal volumes compared to healthy controls. |
Positive
|
