Meeting Banner
Abstract #4630

Catechol-O-methyl transferase Val108/158Met genotype influences the striatum volume in healthy subjects: A voxel-based morphometry study at 3T MRI.

Keita Watanabe 1 , Shingo Kakeda 1 , Reiji Yoshimura 2 , Abe Osamu 3 , Ide Satoru 1 , Rieko Watanabe 1 , Asuka Katsuki 2 , Wakako Umene-Nakano 2 , Jun Nakamura 2 , and Yukunori Korogi 1

1 Radiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka, Japan, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan, 2 Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka, Japan, Japan, 3 Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a methylation enzyme engaged in the degradation of dopamine by catalyzing the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine. Although COMT appears to be concentrated especially in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and medial temporal lobe, the recent studies showed that COMT impact on brain activation is not limited to the PFC and medial temporal lobe, but extending into the striatum in healthy subjects. We investigated the relationship between the Val108/158Met COMT genotype and striatum volume. We found that COMT genotype affects the caudate volume,which may relate to the differences of dopamine level in the striatum.

This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.

Join Here