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Investigation of amygdala volume in men with the fragile X premutation

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Abstract

Premutation fragile X carriers have a CGG repeat expansion (55 to 200 repeats) in the promoter region of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. Amygdala dysfunction has been observed in premutation symptomatology, and recent research has suggested the amygdala as an area susceptible to the molecular effects of the premutation. The current study utilizes structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the relationship between amygdala volume, CGG expansion size, FMR1 mRNA, and psychological symptoms in male premutation carriers without FXTAS compared with age and IQ matched controls. No significant between group differences in amygdala volume were found. However, a significant negative correlation between amygdala volume and CGG was found in the lower range of CGG repeat expansions, but not in the higher range of CGG repeat expansions.

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Funding

Funded by NIH grants HD03671, MH078041, MH77554, RL1AG032115, RL1NS062412 and UL1DE19583

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, 202 Cousteau Place, Suite 250, Davis, CA, 95618, USA

    Diana Selmeczy, Kami Koldewyn, John M. Wang & Susan M. Rivera

  2. M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Kami Koldewyn, Aaron Lee, David R. Hessl, Flora Tassone, Patrick Adams, Randi J. Hagerman, Paul J. Hagerman & Susan M. Rivera

  3. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Danielle Harvey

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    David R. Hessl

  5. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Flora Tassone & Paul J. Hagerman

  6. Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Randi J. Hagerman

  7. Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Susan M. Rivera

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  1. Diana Selmeczy
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  2. Kami Koldewyn
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  3. John M. Wang
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  4. Aaron Lee
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  5. Danielle Harvey
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  6. David R. Hessl
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  7. Flora Tassone
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  8. Patrick Adams
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  9. Randi J. Hagerman
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  10. Paul J. Hagerman
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  11. Susan M. Rivera
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Correspondence to Susan M. Rivera.

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Selmeczy, D., Koldewyn, K., Wang, J.M. et al. Investigation of amygdala volume in men with the fragile X premutation. Brain Imaging and Behavior 5, 285–294 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-011-9132-5

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