Relationship between androgen receptor CAG/GGN repeat polymorphisms and the ratio of 2D∶4D

doi:10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2016.03.021

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective The ratio of the length of the second finger to the fourth finger (2D∶4D) in humans is considered as a putative marker of prenatal exposure to androgen. Some studies have reported the relationship between CAG number and the ratio of 2D∶4D, but their results were variable. Here, we investigated the effect of CAG/GGN repeat polymorphisms in androgen receptor（AR）on 2D∶4D in Chinese people, and we wanted to investigate a suitable statistical method to find the real relationship between AR CAG/GGN repeat polymorphisms and the 2D∶4D ratio. Methods We examined 294 males and 391 females. The CAG and GGN repeats of the AR gene were analyzed on ABI 3730 DNA analyzer, using Peak Scanner software V1.0 to ascertain the size of AR alleles. The 2D∶4D ratio was standardized by x ±2s. We used the quartile method to choose the lower (Q1) and higher (Q3) 2D∶4D ratio. Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficients were used to find the relationship between AR CAG/GGN repeat polymorphisms and the 2D∶4D ratio. Results Females showed significantly higher 2D∶4D ratio than males in the right, and mean 2D∶4D ratio of both hards but not in the D_R-L 2D∶4D ratio. There was no relationship between AR CAG/GGN alleles and right、left 2D∶4D of males (P>0.05)，but CAG alleles were positively related to Q1 D_R-L, Q3 Mean 2D∶4D ratio of males (r=0.280,P＜0.05,r=0.274,P＜0.05). The shorter CAG alleles were positively related to Q3 Mean 2D∶4D ratio of females (r=0.337,P＜0.05)，the longer CAG alleles were positively related to Q3 right hand and DR-L 2D∶4D ratio of females (r=0.238,P＜0.05;r=0.175, P＜0.05)，the Mean CAG alleles were positively related to Q3 Mean 2D∶4D ratio of females (r=0.236, P P＜0.05), the longer GGN alleles were positively related to Q1 right hand 2D∶4D ratio of females (r=0.204, P＜0.05)，the Mean GGN alleles were positively related to Q3 Mean 2D∶4D ratio of females (r=0.225, P＜0.05). The longer CAG alleles were positively related to right hand 2D∶4D ratio of females. The longer GGN alleles were positively related to right hand 2D∶4D ratio of females. Conclusion 2D∶4D ratio may be used as a simple proxy for AR variation. Combine using the quartile method and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficients may be a better way to find the relationship between AR variation and 2D∶4D.

ZHANG Chuan LU Hong HAO Sheng-ju YAN You-sheng DANG Jie ZHENG Lei ZHANG Qing-hua HUO Zheng-hao*. Relationship between androgen receptor CAG/GGN repeat polymorphisms and the ratio of 2D∶4D[J]. AAS, 2016, (3): 409-414.

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