Association between Va166Met polymorphism of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) gene and a deficiency of colour vision in alcohol-dependent male patients

0364541 - ÚŽFG 2012 RIV IE eng J - Journal Article
Šerý, Omar - Šťastný, F. - Zvolský, P. - Hlinomazová, Z. - Balcar, V. J.
Association between Va166Met polymorphism of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) gene and a deficiency of colour vision in alcohol-dependent male patients.
Neuroscience Letters. Roč. 499, č. 3 (2011), s. 154-157. ISSN 0304-3940. E-ISSN 1872-7972
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50450515
Keywords : Glutamate * GABA * Retina
Subject RIV: FH - Neurology
Impact factor: 2.105, year: 2011

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein encoded, in humans, by BDNF gene on chromosome U. BDNF protects adult neurons and promotes growth and differentiation during ontogenetic development but the nature and magnitude of its effects could be influenced by functional polymorphisms. The BDNF polymorphism Va166Met (rs6265) has been studied in the context of etiology of mental diseases including alcoholism. Alcoholism - a complex disorder known to be linked to several genes - has multiple manifestations, including sensory deficits such as those affecting vision. In the present study we examined a relationship between the Va166Met polymorphism, alcohol dependence and colour vision deficiency (CVD) in 167 alcohol-dependent men and 289 control male subjects. Statistical analysis revealed that almost half (about 48%) of the alcohol dependent men had a CVD. In addition we found that CVD was significantly associated (P = 0.005) with the Va166Met polymorphism.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0200006