Sexual side effects associated with polymorphisms in glutamatergic genes GRIA3 GRIK2 - NEUROMARK tests

General Discussion
#1

Hi Guys,

Has anyone had this test done. They have been linking adverse effects (including all sexual side effects) from SSRIs to polymorphisms in glutamatergic genes.

“Genetic and clinical predictors of sexual dysfunction in citalopram-treated depressed patients.”

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19295509

They just did a bunch of studies specifically linking GRIA3; GRIK2 to suicidal ideation on SSRIs.

NeuroMark has a test, like the CAG repeat test (which I did by the way and it came back normal), which measures polymorphisms in glutamatergic genes GRIA3; GRIK2, which are the two specific genes that were associated with prevalence of the adverse effect of “loos of libido” in the Citalopram study.

neuromark.com/

I’m interested because even though our problems are not from SSRIs, they really don’t seem to be related to Testosterone so looking at other stuff like this should be of interest. If we found out that many of us had variants in these genes, then we would know where to start looking for a fix.

PPS.

#2

It’s not that easy and you can’t assume that these genes are relevant to our specific problem. Taking a genetic angle at our disease is in fact an interesting approach. But you’re not going to get far by testing one or two genes at a time, considering that we have about 20K – 25K protein encoding genes in our genome. Even if I gave you the answer to the question you are asking, you and I wouldn’t be able to do anything with it. A scientist would have to determine what protein the gene encodes (is possibly already known), what pathway(s) the protein is embedded in and ultimately determine what its function is. Determining protein function in vivo is rather complex and is often done using genetically engineered mice (mouse models, knockout mice), where the gene which encodes the protein that you want to look at is “knocked down” (disabled) using recombinant DNA techniques. Needless to say, this is neither easy nor cheap.

From a genetic point of view, what we really want to find out is what makes us genetically different from the 98%+ other men who don’t develop this syndrome after taking 5ARI’s (which is exactly what the study you’re referring to did for citalopram patients). I actually have contact with a scientist (geneticist, AR specialist) who would be prepared to do this. He would fully sequence the genome of 100 of us and compare the results with a control group of at least another 100 “normal” guys. This approach would allow us to exactly determine what makes us “different” and possibly give us some insight into where to start looking. Downside #1: This would cost us about $200K (which is actually amazingly cheap compared to what it would have cost us only a few years ago). Downside #2: Genes still don’t necessarily tell us anything about function. There are experiments which are currently higher on the priority list, and don’t cost as much, and as such need to be done first. But eventually, it could be that we would want to invest those 200K to get the same kind of data for us the study you referred to provides.