Genetic Indicators of 5-HT System functionality - effects on experimental aggression in healthy men and women

Kuepper, Y., Schmitz, A., Alexander, N., Osinsky, R., Kozyra, E., and Hennig, J.
Institut für Psychology und Sportwissenschaft, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

Serotonin (5-HT) has been implicated in the regulation of aggression. Findings in healthy subjects, especially women, are inconclusive. Among other, more indirect measures of 5-HT activity, several genetic markers of serotonergic activity have been linked to aggression. We were now interested in the additive gen effects of three relevant genetic indicators of 5-HT functionality (polymorphisms: 5-HTTLPR, TPH2 G(-703)T, 5-HT2a T(102)C) on aggressive behaviour. A total number of 136 men and women were genotyped for the above polymorphisms and subjected to a competitive reaction time task, a well established tool to elicit and measure aggression. Configural Frequency Analysis (CFA) identified several types and antitypes (combinations of genotyps being preferentially linked with increased or reduced aggression) which were modulated by gender. Our data further underline the importance of 5-HT functionality in regulation of aggressive behaviour in healthy humans but also point to the involvement of other, gender dimorphic factors (e.g. sexual steroids).

Symposium 18: Biology of Aggression
12.06.2009, 14:00-15:00
Hörsaal Nord