Tan GCY, Chu C, Lee YT, Tan CCK, Ashburner J, Wood NW, Frackowiak RS. The influence of microsatellite polymorphisms in sex steroid receptor genes ESR1, ESR2 and AR on sex differences in brain structure.
Neuroimage 2020;
221:117087. [PMID:
32593802 PMCID:
PMC8960998 DOI:
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117087]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR), oestrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and oestrogen receptor beta (ESR2) play essential roles in mediating the effect of sex hormones on sex differences in the brain. Using Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and gene sizing in two independent samples (discovery n = 173, replication = 61), we determine the common and unique influences on brain sex differences in grey (GM) and white matter (WM) volume between repeat lengths (n) of microsatellite polymorphisms AR(CAG)n, ESR1(TA)n and ESR2(CA)n. In the hypothalamus, temporal lobes, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior insula and prefrontal cortex, we find increased GM volume with increasing AR(CAG)n across sexes, decreasing ESR1(TA)n across sexes and decreasing ESR2(CA)n in females. Uniquely, AR(CAG)n was positively associated with dorsolateral prefrontal and orbitofrontal GM volume and the anterior corona radiata, left superior fronto-occipital fasciculus, thalamus and internal capsule WM volume. ESR1(TA)n was negatively associated with the left superior corona radiata, left cingulum and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus WM volume uniquely. ESR2(CA)n was negatively associated with right fusiform and posterior cingulate cortex uniquely. We thus describe the neuroanatomical correlates of three microsatellite polymorphisms of steroid hormone receptors and their relationship to sex differences.
Microsatellite polymorphisms in sex hormone receptor genes influence volume in regions of brain sex difference
AR(CAG)n repeat length is positively associated with grey and white matter volume across males and females
ESR1(TA)n repeat length is negatively associated with grey and white matter volume across males and females
ESR2(CA)n repeat length is negatively associated with grey matter volume in females but not in males
Repeat length was associated with volume in the hypothalamus, insula, temporal cortices, prefrontal cortices, inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi in the three genes.
These regions were largely replicated in an independent cohort acquired on a separate scanner.
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