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Logo of biosexdiffBioMed CentralBiomed Central Web Sitesearchsubmit a manuscriptregisterthis articleBiology of Sex DifferencesJournal Front Page
 
Biol Sex Differ. 2012; 3: 17.
Published online 2012 July 30. doi:  10.1186/2042-6410-3-17
PMCID: PMC3472235
Copyright ©2012 Stankova et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Sexually dimorphic effects of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR ) variants on Harm Avoidance
Trayana Stankova,1 Peter Eichhammer,2 Berthold Langguth,2 and Philipp G Sandcorresponding author2
1Experimental and Clinical Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
2Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 84, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
corresponding authorCorresponding author.
Trayana Stankova: trayana_stankova1987/at/abv.bg; Peter Eichhammer: peter.eichhammer/at/medbo.de; Berthold Langguth: berthold.langguth/at/medbo.de; Philipp G Sand: philipp.sand/at/klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Received February 20, 2012; Accepted July 11, 2012.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Abstract
Background
Recent research has suggested that oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) variants may account for individual differences in social behavior, the effects of stress and parenting styles. Little is known, however, on a putative role of the gene in heritable temperamental traits.
Methods
We addressed effects of two common OXTR variants, rs237900 and rs237902, on personality dimensions in 99 healthy subjects using the Temperament and Character Inventory.
Results
When sex was controlled for and an OXTR genotype*sex interaction term was included in the regression model, 11% of the variance in Harm Avoidance could be explained (uncorrected p ≤ 0.01). Female carriers of the minor alleles scored highest, and a novel A217T mutation emerged in the most harm avoidant male participant.
Conclusions
Findings lend support to a modulatory effect of common OXTR variants on Harm Avoidance in healthy caucasian women and invite resequencing of the gene in anxiety phenotypes to identify more explanatory functional variation.
Keywords: Oxytocin receptor gene, Personality traits, Sexual dimorphism
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