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Association Analysis of Exonic Variants of the GABAB-Receptor Gene and Alpha Electroencephalogram Voltage in Normal Subjects and Alcohol-Dependent Patients

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Abstract

Based on pharmacologic evidence, it has been suggested that GABAB receptors may play a crucial role in the generation of alpha-electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations. We tested whether three exonic variants of the gene encoding the human GABAB receptor (GABABR1) modify scalp-recorded alpha-EEG voltage. One hundred twenty-eight patients suffering from alcoholism and 114 normal subjects were investigated. Alcohol-dependent patients were included because evidence exists that the frequently observed alpha low voltage in these subjects is at least partly a trait variable. Logistic regression analyses revealed no associations between alpha-EEG voltage and polymorphic variations in exon 1a1 or exon 11. A significant interaction was observed for an exon 7 substitution polymorphism and diagnosis (P = 0.009). Post hoc analyses showed an association between EEG phenotype and exon 7 genotype in normal subjects only. It is concluded that this particular association may only be observable under physiologic conditions and that alpha low voltage in alcohol-dependent subjects is under the control of either different genes or that it is related to the disease process.

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Authors
  1. Georg Winterer
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  2. Richard Mahlberg
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  3. Michael N. Smolka
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  4. Jerzy Samochowiec
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  5. Mario Ziller
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  6. Hans-Peter Rommelspacher
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  7. Werner M. Herrmann
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  8. Lutz G. Schmidt
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  9. Thomas Sander
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Winterer, G., Mahlberg, R., Smolka, M.N. et al. Association Analysis of Exonic Variants of the GABAB-Receptor Gene and Alpha Electroencephalogram Voltage in Normal Subjects and Alcohol-Dependent Patients. Behav Genet 33, 7–15 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021043315012

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