Associations between genetic variations in oxytocin pathway genes and hippocampal volume: Insights from the UK BiobankShow others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: Cortex, ISSN 0010-9452, E-ISSN 1973-8102, Vol. 183, p. 211-219Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The role of oxytocin-related genes in social-cognitive function has been previously established, but structural brain mechanisms underlying this link remain poorly understood. Utilizing a substantial dataset from the UK Biobank (N ≈ 30,000), this research determined associations between variations in ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within three oxytocin pathway genes (i.e., the oxytocin/neurophysin I prepropetide gene, the cluster of differentiation 38 glycoprotein gene, the oxytocin receptor gene) and whole-brain gray matter volume. Carriers of the AA or AG genotypes of the oxytocin receptor gene rs237851 SNP exhibited significantly larger hippocampal volume than carriers of the GG genotype. These results support the link between variations in the oxytocin receptor gene and hippocampal structure, with possible impact on social-cognitive function such as social recognition memory.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2025. Vol. 183, p. 211-219
Keywords [en]
Oxytocin pathway gene, Oxytocin receptor, Hippocampus, Social recognition memory, UK Biobank
National Category
Neurosciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-549684DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.11.017ISI: 001403098800001PubMedID: 39736190OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-549684DiVA, id: diva2:1936135
Funder
Swedish Research Council, Dnr 2018-02904Swedish Research Council, Dnr 2013-00854The Swedish Brain Foundation, FO2022-0148The Swedish Brain Foundation, FO2023-00902025-02-102025-02-102025-02-10Bibliographically approved