The Answer Lies in the Serotonin Receptor 2C Gene
Now I know why I reacted so vindictively to being rejected by EurekAlert! My serotonin receptors must have been in the off position (as they are too often).
Telegraph is reporting (with a delightfully awful headline - Bad-tempered women ‘can blame it on the genes’) results from a study conducted by Dr. Indrani Halder and colleagues that variations in the serotonin receptor 2C gene are related to anger and hostility in a group of 550 European women. Details will be presented today at the American Psychosomatic Society’s Annual Meeting.
Some other studies on the serotonin receptor 2C gene have found that:
- Suicide victims with a history of major depression had a decrease in serotonin receptor 2C activity.
- Mice treated with antidepressant drug fluoxetine experienced a boost in receptor activity
- The ser23 variant was associated with visual hallucinations in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
- Serotonin receptor 2C gene variants are associated with greater weight gain in patients treated with certain antipsychotic drugs, such as clozapine.
Serotonin is involved in mood, emotion, sleep and appetite.
NB: Compare the Telegraph article with this press release from EurekAlert! Don’t tell me that because Telegraph is a “legit” media organization, their regurgitated write-up is more worthy of press cred than mine. Puhlease. OK. I swear that I won’t keep going on and on about this issue. Moving on….
Tags: serotonin, serotonin receptor, psychiatry, mental health, genetics, genes, genome, dna, diseases, illness, health, medicine
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POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health
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9 opinions for The Answer Lies in the Serotonin Receptor 2C Gene
DMC
Mar 9, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Your blog is not peer reviewed literature.
Remember that.
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Mar 9, 2007 at 4:29 pm
DMC: I’m sorry I fail to see your point. Gaining access to embargoed press releases has nothing to do with whether I am writing peer reviewed literature or not on this blog. It has to do with access to information.
Rebecca Taylor
Mar 9, 2007 at 7:33 pm
This explains a lot about me…. :)
Rebecca Taylor
Mar 10, 2007 at 12:13 am
And where did you get that picture of my anyway?
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Mar 10, 2007 at 8:36 am
Rebecca: You are hawt! ;)
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Rebecca Taylor
Mar 10, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I know. I think the knive really adds to my mystic don’t you?
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