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Review
. 2017 Jan 2;95(1-2):737-762.
doi: 10.1002/jnr.23877.

Sex differences modulating serotonergic polymorphisms implicated in the mechanistic pathways of risk for depression and related disorders

LeeAnn M Perry  1 , Andrea N Goldstein-Piekarski  2   3 , Leanne M Williams  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Sex differences modulating serotonergic polymorphisms implicated in the mechanistic pathways of risk for depression and related disorders

LeeAnn M Perry et al. J Neurosci Res. .

Abstract

Despite consistent observations of sex differences in depression and related emotional disorders, we do not yet know how these sex differences modulate the effects of genetic polymorphisms implicated in risk for these disorders. This Mini-Review focuses on genetic polymorphisms of the serotonergic system to illustrate how sex differences might modulate the neurobiological pathways involved in the development of depression. We consider the interacting role of environmental factors such as early-life stress. Given limited current knowledge about this topic, we highlight methodological considerations, challenges, and guidelines for future research. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords: amygdala; anxiety; conduct disorder; early-life stress; personality; suicide.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicts of Interests LMW has received consultant fees from Humana for projects not related to this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Different effects of serotonergic genotype in the female (top) and male (bottom) brain; AMG: amygdala, HIP: hippocampus
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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