TY  - JOUR
A1  - Chen, Y.
A1  - Palm, F.
A1  - Lesch, K. P.
A1  - Gerlach, M.
A1  - Moessner, R.
A1  - Sommer, C.
T1  - 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA), a main metabolite of serotonin, is responsible for complete Freund's adjuvant-induced thermal hyperalgesia in mice
N2  - Background: The role of serotonin (5-hydroxytrptamine, 5-HT) in the modulation of pain has been widely studied. Previous work led to the hypothesis that 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA), a main metabolite of serotonin, might by itself influence pain thresholds. Results: In the present study, we investigated the role of 5-HIAA in inflammatory pain induced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) into the hind paw of mice. Wild-type mice were compared to mice deficient of the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT-/- mice) using behavioral tests for hyperalgesia and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine tissue levels of 5-HIAA. Wild-type mice reproducibly developed thermal hyperalgesia and paw edema for 5 days after CFA injection. 5-HTT-/- mice treated with CFA had reduced thermal hyperalgesia on day 1 after CFA injection and normal responses to heat hereafter. The 5-HIAA levels in spinal cord and sciatic nerve as measured with HPLC were lower in 5-HTT-/- mice than in wild-type mice after CFA injection. Pretreatment of wild-type mice with intraperitoneal injection of para-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA), a serotonin synthesis inhibitor, resulted in depletion of the 5-HIAA content in spinal cord and sciatic nerve and decrease in thermal hyperalgesia in CFA injected mice. The application of exogenous 5-HIAA resulted in potentiation of thermal hyperalgesia induced by CFA in 5-HTT-/- mice and in wild-type mice pretreated with p- CPA, but not in wild-type mice without p-CPA pretreatment. Further, methysergide, a broad-spectrum serotonin receptor antagonist, had no effect on 5-HIAA-induced potentiation of thermal hyperalgesia in CFA-treated wildtype mice. Conclusion: Taken together, the present results suggest that 5-HIAA plays an important role in modulating peripheral thermal hyperalgesia in CFA induced inflammation, probably via a non-serotonin receptor mechanism.
KW  - Medizin
Y1  - 2011
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68858
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lesch, K. P.
A1  - Stöber, Gerald
A1  - Balling, U.
A1  - Franzek, Ernst
A1  - Li, S. H.
A1  - Ross, C. A.
A1  - Newman, M.
A1  - Beckmann, H.
A1  - Riederer, P.
T1  - Triplet repeats in clinical subtypes of schizophrenia: variation at the DRPLA (B37 CAG repeat) locus is not associated with periodic catatonia
N2  - Clinical evidence for a dominant mode of inheritance and anticipation in periodic catatonia, a distinct subtype of schizophrenia, indicates that genes with triplet repeat expansions or other unstable repetitive elements affecting gene expression may be involved in the etiology of this disorder. Because patients affected with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) may present with "schizophrenic" symptoms, we have investigated the DRPLA (B 37 CAG repeat) locus on chromosome 12 in 41 patients with periodic catatonia. The B 37 CAG repeat locus was highly polymorphic but all alleles in both the patient and control group had repeat sizes within the normal range. We conclude that variation at the DRPLA locus is unlikely to be associated with periodic catatonia. The evidence for dominant inheritance and anticipation as well as the high prevalence of human brain genes containing trinucleotide repeats justifies further screening for triplet repeat expansions in periodic catatonia.
KW  - Schizophrenie
KW  - Association study
KW  - B 37 CAG repeat locus
KW  - chromosome 12
KW  - schizophrenia
KW  - periodic catatonia
Y1  - 1994
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-63369
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schraut, K. G.
A1  - Jakob, S. B.
A1  - Weidner, M. T.
A1  - Schmitt, A. G.
A1  - Scholz, C. J.
A1  - Strekalova, T.
A1  - El Hajj, N.
A1  - Eijssen, L. M. T.
A1  - Domschke, K.
A1  - Reif, A.
A1  - Haaf, T.
A1  - Ortega, G.
A1  - Steinbusch, H. W. M.
A1  - Lesch, K. P.
A1  - Van den Hove, D. L.
T1  - Prenatal stress-induced programming of genome-wide promoter DNA methylation in 5-HTT-deficient mice
JF  - Translational Psychiatry
N2  - The serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT/SLC6A4)-linked polymorphic region has been suggested to have a modulatory role in mediating effects of early-life stress exposure on psychopathology rendering carriers of the low-expression short (s)-variant more vulnerable to environmental adversity in later life. The underlying molecular mechanisms of this gene-by-environment interaction are not well understood, but epigenetic regulation including differential DNA methylation has been postulated to have a critical role. Recently, we used a maternal restraint stress paradigm of prenatal stress (PS) in 5-HTT-deficient mice and showed that the effects on behavior and gene expression were particularly marked in the hippocampus of female 5-Htt+/- offspring. Here, we examined to which extent these effects are mediated by differential methylation of DNA. For this purpose, we performed a genome-wide hippocampal DNA methylation screening using methylated-DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) on Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Promoter 1.0 R arrays. Using hippocampal DNA from the same mice as assessed before enabled us to correlate gene-specific DNA methylation, mRNA expression and behavior. We found that 5-Htt genotype, PS and their interaction differentially affected the DNA methylation signature of numerous genes, a subset of which showed overlap with the expression profiles of the corresponding transcripts. For example, a differentially methylated region in the gene encoding myelin basic protein (Mbp) was associated with its expression in a 5-Htt-, PS- and 5-Htt × PS-dependent manner. Subsequent fine-mapping of this Mbp locus linked the methylation status of two specific CpG sites to Mbp expression and anxiety-related behavior. In conclusion, hippocampal DNA methylation patterns and expression profiles of female prenatally stressed 5-Htt+/- mice suggest that distinct molecular mechanisms, some of which are promoter methylation-dependent, contribute to the behavioral effects of the 5-Htt genotype, PS exposure and their interaction.
KW  - mice
KW  - DNA
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-119199
VL  - 4
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Jarick, I.
A1  - Volckmar, A. L.
A1  - Pütter, C.
A1  - Pechlivanis, S.
A1  - Nguyen, T. T.
A1  - Dauvermann, M. R.
A1  - Beck, S.
A1  - Albayrak, Ö.
A1  - Scherag, S.
A1  - Gilsbach, S.
A1  - Cichon, S.
A1  - Hoffmann, P.
A1  - Degenhardt, F.
A1  - Nöthen, M. M.
A1  - Schreiber, S.
A1  - Wichmann, H. E.
A1  - Jöckel, K. H.
A1  - Heinrich, J.
A1  - Tiesler, C. M. T.
A1  - Faraone, S. V.
A1  - Walitza, S.
A1  - Sinzig, J.
A1  - Freitag, C.
A1  - Meyer, J.
A1  - Herpertz-Dahlmann, B.
A1  - Lehmkuhl, G.
A1  - Renner, T. J.
A1  - Warnke, A.
A1  - Romanos, M.
A1  - Lesch, K. P.
A1  - Reif, A.
A1  - Schimmelmann, B. G.
A1  - Hebebrand, J.
A1  - Scherag, A.
A1  - Hinney, A.
T1  - Genome-wide analysis of rare copy number variations reveals PARK2 as a candidate gene for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
JF  - Molecular Psychiatry
N2  - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder. Genetic loci have not yet been identified by genome-wide association studies. Rare copy number variations (CNVs), such as chromosomal deletions or duplications, have been implicated in ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. To identify rare (frequency ≤1%) CNVs that increase the risk of ADHD, we performed a whole-genome CNV analysis based on 489 young ADHD patients and 1285 adult population-based controls and identified one significantly associated CNV region. In tests for a global burden of large (>500 kb) rare CNVs, we observed a nonsignificant (P=0.271) 1.126-fold enriched rate of subjects carrying at least one such CNV in the group of ADHD cases. Locus-specific tests of association were used to assess if there were more rare CNVs in cases compared with controls. Detected CNVs, which were significantly enriched in the ADHD group, were validated by quantitative (q)PCR. Findings were replicated in an independent sample of 386 young patients with ADHD and 781 young population-based healthy controls. We identified rare CNVs within the parkinson protein 2 gene (PARK2) with a significantly higher prevalence in ADHD patients than in controls \((P=2.8 × 10^{-4})\) after empirical correction for genome-wide testing). In total, the PARK2 locus (chr 6: 162 659 756-162 767 019) harboured three deletions and nine duplications in the ADHD patients and two deletions and two duplications in the controls. By qPCR analysis, we validated 11 of the 12 CNVs in ADHD patients \((P=1.2 × 10^{-3})\) after empirical correction for genome-wide testing). In the replication sample, CNVs at the PARK2 locus were found in four additional ADHD patients and one additional control \((P=4.3 × 10^{-2})\). Our results suggest that copy number variants at the PARK2 locus contribute to the genetic susceptibility of ADHD. Mutations and CNVs in PARK2 are known to be associated with Parkinson disease.
KW  - children
KW  - ADHD
KW  - CNVs
KW  - GWAS
KW  - PARK2
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-121131
VL  - 19
IS  - 19
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Franke, B.
A1  - Faraone, S. V.
A1  - Asherson, P.
A1  - Buitelaar, J.
A1  - Bau, C. H. D.
A1  - Ramos-Quiroga, J. A.
A1  - Mick, E.
A1  - Grevet, E. H.
A1  - Johansson, S.
A1  - Haavik, J.
A1  - Lesch, K.-P.
A1  - Cormand, B.
A1  - Reif, A.
T1  - The genetics of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults, a review
JF  - Molecular Psychiatry
N2  - The adult form of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (aADHD) has a prevalence of up to 5% and is the most severe long-term outcome of this common neurodevelopmental disorder. Family studies in clinical samples suggest an increased familial liability for aADHD compared with childhood ADHD (cADHD), whereas twin studies based on self-rated symptoms in adult population samples show moderate heritability estimates of 30–40%. However, using multiple sources of information, the heritability of clinically diagnosed aADHD and cADHD is very similar. Results of candidate gene as well as genome-wide molecular genetic studies in aADHD samples implicate some of the same genes involved in ADHD in children, although in some cases different alleles and different genes may be responsible for adult versus childhood ADHD. Linkage studies have been successful in identifying loci for aADHD and led to the identification of LPHN3 and CDH13 as novel genes associated with ADHD across the lifespan. In addition, studies of rare genetic variants have identified probable causative mutations for aADHD. Use of endophenotypes based on neuropsychology and neuroimaging, as well as next-generation genome analysis and improved statistical and bioinformatic analysis methods hold the promise of identifying additional genetic variants involved in disease etiology. Large, international collaborations have paved the way for well-powered studies. Progress in identifying aADHD risk genes may provide us with tools for the prediction of disease progression in the clinic and better treatment, and ultimately may help to prevent persistence of ADHD into adulthood.
KW  - IMpACT
KW  - persistent ADHD
KW  - molecular genetics
KW  - heritability
KW  - endophenotype
Y1  - 2012
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-124677
VL  - 17
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Jain, M.
A1  - Vélez, J. I.
A1  - Acosta, M. T.
A1  - Palacio, L. G.
A1  - Balog, J.
A1  - Roessler, E.
A1  - Pineda, D.
A1  - Londoño, A. C.
A1  - Palacio, J. D.
A1  - Arbelaez, A.
A1  - Lopera, F.
A1  - Elia, J.
A1  - Hakonarson, H.
A1  - Seitz, C.
A1  - Freitag, C. M.
A1  - Palmason, H.
A1  - Meyer, J.
A1  - Romanos, M.
A1  - Walitza, S.
A1  - Hemminger, U.
A1  - Warnke, A.
A1  - Romanos, J.
A1  - Renner, T.
A1  - Jacob, C.
A1  - Lesch, K.-P.
A1  - Swanson, J.
A1  - Castellanos, F. X.
A1  - Bailey-Wilson, J. E.
A1  - Arcos-Burgos, M.
A1  - Muenke, M.
T1  - A cooperative interaction between LPHN3 and 11q doubles the risk for ADHD
JF  - Molecular Psychiatry
N2  - In previous studies of a genetic isolate, we identified significant linkage of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to 4q, 5q, 8q, 11q and 17p. The existence of unique large size families linked to multiple regions, and the fact that these families came from an isolated population, we hypothesized that two-locus interaction contributions to ADHD were plausible. Several analytical models converged to show significant interaction between 4q and 11q (P<1 × 10−8) and 11q and 17p (P<1 × 10−6). As we have identified that common variants of the LPHN3 gene were responsible for the 4q linkage signal, we focused on 4q–11q interaction to determine that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) harbored in the LPHN3 gene interact with SNPs spanning the 11q region that contains DRD2 and NCAM1 genes, to double the risk of developing ADHD. This interaction not only explains genetic effects much better than taking each of these loci effects by separated but also differences in brain metabolism as depicted by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy data and pharmacogenetic response to stimulant medication. These findings not only add information about how high order genetic interactions might be implicated in conferring susceptibility to develop ADHD but also show that future studies of the effects of genetic interactions on ADHD clinical information will help to shape predictive models of individual outcome.
KW  - ADHD
KW  - genetic interaction
KW  - LPHN3
KW  - NCAM1
KW  - DRD2
Y1  - 2012
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-125128
VL  - 17
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bonn, M.
A1  - Schmitt, A.
A1  - Lesch, K.-P.
A1  - Van Bockstaele, E. J.
A1  - Asan, E.
T1  - Serotonergic innervation and serotonin receptor expression of NPY-producing neurons in the rat lateral and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei
JF  - Brain Structure and Function
N2  - Pharmacobehavioral studies in experimental animals, and imaging studies in humans, indicate that serotonergic transmission in the amygdala plays a key role in emotional processing, especially for anxiety-related stimuli. The lateral and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei receive a dense serotonergic innervation in all species studied to date. We investigated interrelations between serotonergic afferents and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-producing neurons, which are a subpopulation of inhibitory interneurons in the rat lateral and basolateral nuclei with particularly strong anxiolytic properties. Dual light microscopic immunolabeling showed numerous appositions of serotonergic afferents on NPY-immunoreactive somata. Using electron microscopy, direct membrane appositions and synaptic contacts between serotonin-containing axon terminals and NPY-immunoreactive cellular profiles were unequivocally established. Double in situ hybridization documented that more than 50 %, and about 30–40 % of NPY mRNA-producing neurons, co-expressed inhibitory 5-HT1A and excitatory 5-HT2C mRNA receptor subtype mRNA, respectively, in both nuclei with no gender differences. Triple in situ hybridization showed that individual NPY mRNA-producing interneurons co-express both 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C mRNAs. Co-expression of NPY and 5-HT3 mRNA was not observed. The results demonstrate that serotonergic afferents provide substantial innervation of NPY-producing neurons in the rat lateral and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei. Studies of serotonin receptor subtype co-expression indicate a differential impact of the serotonergic innervation on this small, but important, population of anxiolytic interneurons, and provide the basis for future studies of the circuitry underlying serotonergic modulation of emotional stimulus processing in the amygdala.
KW  - NPY
KW  - serotonergic system
KW  - amygdala
KW  - anxiety
Y1  - 2013
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-132591
VL  - 218
IS  - 2
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rutten, BPF
A1  - Vermetten, E
A1  - Vinkers, CH
A1  - Ursini, G
A1  - Daskalakis, NP
A1  - Pishva, E
A1  - de Nijs, L
A1  - Houtepen, LC
A1  - Eijssen, L
A1  - Jaffe, AE
A1  - Kenis, G
A1  - Viechtbauer, W
A1  - van den Hove, D
A1  - Schraut, KG
A1  - Lesch, K-P
A1  - Kleinman, JE
A1  - Hyde, TM
A1  - Weinberger, DR
A1  - Schalkwyk, L
A1  - Lunnon, K
A1  - Mill, J
A1  - Cohen, H
A1  - Yehuda, R
A1  - Baker, DG
A1  - Maihofer, AX
A1  - Nievergelt, CM
A1  - Geuze, E
A1  - Boks, MPM
T1  - Longitudinal analyses of the DNA methylome in deployed military servicemen identify susceptibility loci for post-traumatic stress disorder
JF  - Molecular Psychiatry
N2  - In order to determine the impact of the epigenetic response to traumatic stress on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study examined longitudinal changes of genome-wide blood DNA methylation profiles in relation to the development of PTSD symptoms in two prospective military cohorts (one discovery and one replication data set). In the first cohort consisting of male Dutch military servicemen (n = 93), the emergence of PTSD symptoms over a deployment period to a combat zone was significantly associated with alterations in DNA methylation levels at 17 genomic positions and 12 genomic regions. Evidence for mediation of the relation between combat trauma and PTSD symptoms by longitudinal changes in DNA methylation was observed at several positions and regions. Bioinformatic analyses of the reported associations identified significant enrichment in several pathways relevant for symptoms of PTSD. Targeted analyses of the significant findings from the discovery sample in an independent prospective cohort of male US marines (n = 98) replicated the observed relation between decreases in DNA methylation levels and PTSD symptoms at genomic regions in ZFP57, RNF39 and HIST1H2APS2. Together, our study pinpoints three novel genomic regions where longitudinal decreases in DNA methylation across the period of exposure to combat trauma marks susceptibility for PTSD.
KW  - Molecular biology
KW  - Psychiatric disorders
Y1  - 2018
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227171
VL  - 23
IS  - 5
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ziegler, C.
A1  - Richter, J.
A1  - Mahr, M.
A1  - Gajewska, A.
A1  - Schiele, M.A.
A1  - Gehrmann, A.
A1  - Schmidt, B.
A1  - Lesch, K.-P.
A1  - Lang, T.
A1  - Helbig-Lang, S.
A1  - Pauli, P.
A1  - Kircher, T.
A1  - Reif, A.
A1  - Rief, W.
A1  - Vossbeck-Elsebusch, A.N.
A1  - Arolt, V.
A1  - Wittchen, H.-U.
A1  - Hamm, A.O.
A1  - Deckert, J.
A1  - Domschke, K.
T1  - MAOA gene hypomethylation in panic disorder-reversibility of an epigenetic risk pattern by psychotherapy
JF  - Translational Psychiatry
N2  - Epigenetic signatures such as methylation of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene have been found to be altered in panic disorder (PD). Hypothesizing temporal plasticity of epigenetic processes as a mechanism of successful fear extinction, the present psychotherapy-epigenetic study for we believe the first time investigated MAOA methylation changes during the course of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in PD. MAOA methylation was compared between N=28 female Caucasian PD patients (discovery sample) and N=28 age- and sex-matched healthy controls via direct sequencing of sodium bisulfite-treated DNA extracted from blood cells. MAOA methylation was furthermore analyzed at baseline (T0) and after a 6-week CBT (T1) in the discovery sample parallelized by a waiting time in healthy controls, as well as in an independent sample of female PD patients (N=20). Patients exhibited lower MAOA methylation than healthy controls (P<0.001), and baseline PD severity correlated negatively with MAOA methylation (P=0.01). In the discovery sample, MAOA methylation increased up to the level of healthy controls along with CBT response (number of panic attacks; T0-T1: +3.37±2.17%), while non-responders further decreased in methylation (-2.00±1.28%; P=0.001). In the replication sample, increases in MAOA methylation correlated with agoraphobic symptom reduction after CBT (P=0.02-0.03). The present results support previous evidence for MAOA hypomethylation as a PD risk marker and suggest reversibility of MAOA hypomethylation as a potential epigenetic correlate of response to CBT. The emerging notion of epigenetic signatures as a mechanism of action of psychotherapeutic interventions may promote epigenetic patterns as biomarkers of lasting extinction effects.
KW  - Adult
KW  - Case-Control Studies
KW  - Cognitive Therapy
KW  - DNA Methylation
KW  - Epigenesis
KW  - Genetic
KW  - Female
KW  - Humans
KW  - Monoamine Oxidase/genetics
KW  - Panic Disorder/genetics
KW  - Panic Disorder/therapy
KW  - Sequence Analysis
KW  - DNA
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-164422
IS  - 6
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Aboagye, B.
A1  - Weber, T.
A1  - Merdian, H. L.
A1  - Bartsch, D.
A1  - Lesch, K. P.
A1  - Waider, J.
T1  - Serotonin deficiency induced after brain maturation rescues consequences of early life adversity
JF  - Scientific Reports
N2  - Brain serotonin (5-HT) system dysfunction is implicated in depressive disorders and acute depletion of 5-HT precursor tryptophan has frequently been used to model the influence of 5-HT deficiency on emotion regulation. Tamoxifen (TAM)-induced Cre/loxP-mediated inactivation of the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 gene (Tph2) was used to investigate the effects of provoked 5-HT deficiency in adult mice (Tph2 icKO) previously subjected to maternal separation (MS). The efficiency of Tph2 inactivation was validated by immunohistochemistry and HPLC. The impact of Tph2 icKO in interaction with MS stress (Tph2 icKOxMS) on physiological parameters, emotional behavior and expression of 5-HT system-related marker genes were assessed. Tph2 icKO mice displayed a significant reduction in 5-HT immunoreactive cells and 5-HT concentrations in the rostral raphe region within four weeks following TAM treatment. Tph2 icKO and MS differentially affected food and water intake, locomotor activity as well as panic-like escape behavior. Tph2 icKO prevented the adverse effects of MS stress and altered the expression of the genes previously linked to stress and emotionality. In conclusion, an experimental model was established to study the behavioral and neurobiological consequences of 5-HT deficiency in adulthood in interaction with early-life adversity potentially affecting brain development and the pathogenesis of depressive disorders.
KW  - emotion
KW  - molecular medicine
KW  - neuroscience
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-258626
SN  - 2045-2322
VL  - 11
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Neufang, S.
A1  - Akhrif, A.
A1  - Herrmann, C.G.
A1  - Drepper, C.
A1  - Homola, G.A.
A1  - Nowak, J.
A1  - Waider, J.
A1  - Schmitt, A.G.
A1  - Lesch, K.-P.
A1  - Romanos, M.
T1  - Serotonergic modulation of 'waiting impulsivity' is mediated by the impulsivity phenotype in humans
JF  - Translational Psychiatry
N2  - In rodents, the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) has been established as a reliable measure of waiting impulsivity being defined as the ability to regulate a response in anticipation of reinforcement. Key brain structures are the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and prefrontal regions (for example, pre- and infralimbic cortex), which are, together with other transmitters, modulated by serotonin. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we examined 103 healthy males while performing the 5-CSRTT measuring brain activation in humans by means of a paradigm that has been widely applied in rodents. Subjects were genotyped for the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2; G-703T; rs4570625) variant, an enzyme specific for brain serotonin synthesis. We addressed neural activation patterns of waiting impulsivity and the interaction between the NAcc and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) using dynamic causal modeling. Genetic influence was examined via interaction analyses between the TPH2 genotype (GG homozygotes vs T allele carriers) and the degree of impulsivity as measured by the 5-CSRTT. We found that the driving input of the vmPFC was reduced in highly impulsive T allele carriers (reflecting a reduced top-down control) in combination with an enhanced response in the NAcc after correct target processing (reflecting an augmented response to monetary reward). Taken together, we found a high overlap of our findings with reports from animal studies in regard to the underlying cognitive processes, the brain regions associated with waiting impulsivity and the neural interplay between the NAcc and vmPFC. Therefore, we conclude that the 5-CSRTT is a promising tool for translational studies.
KW  - Clinical Genetics
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-164418
IS  - 6
ER  -