TY - JOUR T1 - Genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 and subcortical variability in the human adult brain JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/2020.12.18.423183 SP - 2020.12.18.423183 AU - Julia C. Stingl AU - Catharina Scholl AU - Julia E. Bosch AU - Roberto Viviani Y1 - 2021/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/08/17/2020.12.18.423183.abstract N2 - Pharmacogenetic studies have shown involvement of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the metabolism of psychotropic drugs. However, expression and activity on endogenous substrates in the brain may underlie a constitutive role of these enzymes beyond drug metabolism. CYP2C19, which is expressed in the human fetal brain during neurodevelopment, shows affinity for endogenous compounds including monoaminergic neurotransmitters, steroid hormones, and endocannabinoids. In this study (N=608), we looked at the genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 and its potential associations with structural phenotypes of subcortical brain volume with structural imaging. Using two independent volume estimation techniques, we found converging evidence for a positive association between CYP2C19 activity scores, as inferred from the genotype, and basal ganglia and hippocampal volume. This association was present only in female individuals, raising the possibility that effects on brain morphology may arise through a mechanism involving the metabolism of estrogen steroids.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. ER -