Searching across hundreds of databases

Our searching services are busy right now. Your search will reload in five seconds.

X
Forgot Password

If you have forgotten your password you can enter your email here and get a temporary password sent to your email.

X
Forgot Password

If you have forgotten your password you can enter your email here and get a temporary password sent to your email.

The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Affects the Vulnerability of the Brain Structural Network.

Frontiers in human neuroscience | 2017

Val66Met, a naturally occurring polymorphism in the human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene resulting in a valine (Val) to methionine (Met) substitution at codon 66, plays an important role in neuroplasticity. While the effect of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on local brain structures has previously been examined, its impact on the configuration of the graph-based white matter structural networks is yet to be investigated. In the current study, we assessed the effect of the BDNF polymorphism on the network properties and robustness of the graph-based white matter structural networks. Graph theory was employed to investigate the structural connectivity derived from white matter tractography in two groups, Val homozygotes (n = 18) and Met-allele carriers (n = 55). Although there were no differences in the global network measures including global efficiency, local efficiency, and modularity between the two genotype groups, we found the effect of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on the robustness properties of the white matter structural networks. Specifically, the white matter structural networks of the Met-allele carrier group showed higher vulnerability to targeted removal of central nodes as compared with those of the Val homozygote group. These findings suggest that the central role of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in regards to neuroplasticity may be associated with inherent differences in the robustness of the white matter structural network according to the genetic variants. Furthermore, greater susceptibility to brain disorders in Met-allele carriers may be understood as being due to their limited stability in white matter structural connectivity.

Pubmed ID: 28824404 RIS Download

Research resources used in this publication

None found

Antibodies used in this publication

None found

Associated grants

None

Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.

This is a list of tools and resources that we have found mentioned in this publication.


GE Healthcare (tool)

RRID:SCR_000004

A commercial antibody supplier and provider of various services.

View all literature mentions

FreeSurfer (tool)

RRID:SCR_001847

Open source software suite for processing and analyzing human brain MRI images. Used for reconstruction of brain cortical surface from structural MRI data, and overlay of functional MRI data onto reconstructed surface. Contains automatic structural imaging stream for processing cross sectional and longitudinal data. Provides anatomical analysis tools, including: representation of cortical surface between white and gray matter, representation of the pial surface, segmentation of white matter from rest of brain, skull stripping, B1 bias field correction, nonlinear registration of cortical surface of individual with stereotaxic atlas, labeling of regions of cortical surface, statistical analysis of group morphometry differences, and labeling of subcortical brain structures.Operating System: Linux, macOS.

View all literature mentions

TrackVis (tool)

RRID:SCR_004817

TrackVis is software tool that can visualize and analyze fiber track data from diffusion MR imaging (DTI/DSI/HARDI/Q-Ball) tractography. It does NOT perform actual fiber tracking. Diffusion Toolkit is a set of tools that reconstruct diffusion imaging data and generate fiber track data for TrackVis to visualize. Because these two sets of tools were developed and maintained separately and each has distinguished funtionalities, they decided to distribute them as two separate programs for the ease of maintenance and upgrade. You do need both of them to perform complete diffusion data processing and analysis. Features of TrackVis include: * Cross-platform. Works on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux with native look and feel. * A variety of track filters (track selecting methods) allowing users to explore and locate specific bundles with ease. * Multiple rendering modes with customizable scalar-driven color codes. * Real-time parameter adjustment and 3D render. * Open format of the track data file allowing users to integrate customized scalar data into the track file and visualize and analyze it. Save and restore scenes in XML style scene file. * Statistical scalar analysis of tracks and ROIs. * Synchronized real-time multiple dataset analysis and display allowing time-point and/or subject comparison. Synchronized analysis and display on same dataset can also be performed in real-time remotely over the network. * Upfront in-line parameter adjustment in real-time. No tedious pop-up dialogs. TrackVis works with Track File created by Diffusion Toolkit. Diffusion Toolkit processes raw DICOM, Nifti format and ANALYZE images. TrackVis and Diffusion Toolkit are cross-platform software. They can run on Windows XP, Mac OS X as well as Linux.

View all literature mentions

Brain Connectivity Toolbox (tool)

RRID:SCR_004841

A large selection of complex network measures in Matlab that are increasingly used to characterize structural and functional brain connectivity datasets. Several people have contributed to the toolbox, and if you wish to contribute with a new function or set of functions, please contact Olaf Sporns. All efforts have been made to avoid errors, but users are strongly urged to independently verify the accuracy and suitability of toolbox functions for the chosen application. Please report bugs or substantial improvements.

View all literature mentions