A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
A variation in the infant oxytocin receptor gene modulates infant hippocampal volumes in association with sex and prenatal maternal anxiety
Authors: Acosta Henriette, Tuulari Jetro J, Kantojärvi Katri, Lewis John D, Hashempour Niloofar, Scheinin Noora M, Lehtola Satu J, Fonov Vladimir S, Collins Donald Louis, Evans Alan, Parkkola Riitta, Lähdesmäki Tuire, Saunavaara Jani, Merisaari Harri, Karlsson Linnea, Paunio Tiina, Karlsson Hasse
Publication year: 2021
Journal: Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Journal name in source: Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging
Journal acronym: Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging
Article number: 111207
Volume: 307
ISSN: 0925-4927
eISSN: 1872-7506
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2020.111207(external)
Web address : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925492720301797?via%3Dihub(external)
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/51230446(external)
Genetic variants in the oxytocin receptor (OTR) have been linked to distinct social phenotypes, psychiatric disorders and brain volume alterations in adults. However, to date, it is unknown how OTR genotype shapes prenatal brain development and whether it interacts with maternal prenatal environmental risk factors on infant brain volumes. In 105 Finnish mother-infant dyads (44 female, 11-54 days old), the association of offspring OTR genotype rs53576 and its interaction with prenatal maternal anxiety (revised Symptom Checklist 90, gestational weeks 14, 24, 34) on infant bilateral amygdalar, hippocampal and caudate volumes were probed. A sex-specific main effect of rs53576 on infant left hippocampal volumes was observed. In boys compared to girls, left hippocampal volumes were significantly larger in GG-homozygotes compared to A-allele carriers. Furthermore, genotype rs53576 and prenatal maternal anxiety significantly interacted on right hippocampal volumes irrespective of sex. Higher maternal anxiety was associated both with larger hippocampal volumes in A-allele carriers than GG-homozygotes, and, though statistically weak, also with smaller right caudate volumes in GG-homozygotes than A-allele carriers. Our study results suggest that OTR genotype enhances hippocampal neurogenesis in male GG-homozygotes. Further, prenatal maternal anxiety might induce brain alterations that render GG-homozygotes compared to A-allele carriers more vulnerable to depression.
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