Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between genetic factors of SNPs dopamine transporter (DAT) and serotonin transporter (SERT) availabilities in healthy controls.
Methods: The study population consisted of healthy controls with screening 123I-FP-CIT single-photon emission computed tomography. Specific binding of 123I-FP-CIT regarding DAT and SERT was calculated using a region of interest analysis. VOI template was applied to measure specific binding ratios (SBRs) of caudate nucleus, putamen, striatum, midbrain, and pons.
Results: One hundred sixty healthy controls (male 106, female 54, 61.0 ± 11.5 years) were included in this study. Sex difference did not exist in DAT availabilities of caudate nucleus (p = 0.5344), putamen (p = 0.5006), and striatum (p = 0.5056). However, male subjects had higher SERT availabilities of both midbrain (p = 0.0436), and pons (p = 0.0061). Therefore, we analyzed the effect of SNP on DAT availabilities of subjects in all, and that on SERT availabilities of males and females separately. None of 19 SNPs included in this study showed the effect on DAT availabilities. However, rs591323 in Fibroblast Growth Factor 20 on chromosome 8 had a significant impact on SERT availability of both midbrain (p = 0.0056) and pons (p = 0.0007).
Conclusion: SNP rs591323 of risk loci for Parkinson's disease is associated with SERT availability of healthy male subjects.
Keywords: SPECT; Serotonin transporter; Single nucleotide polymorphism.