Reduced Hippocampal Volumes Associated With the Long Variant of theSerotonin Transporter Polymorphism in Major Depression

Abstract

These findings suggest that homozygosity for the L allele is associated with decreased hippocampal volumes in patients with major depression but not in healthy controls. A possible explanation is that the interaction between the serotonergic system and neurotrophic factors as well as excitatory amino acid neurotransmission may affect hippocampal morphologic characteristics.