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Wade Berrettini, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Dept of Psychiatry
Translational Research Laboratory Building
125 South 31st Street
(215) 898-0092 Fax: (215) 573-2041
email: wadeb@mail.med.upenn.edu
Click here for selected publications since Dr. Berrettini's arrival at Penn
RESEARCH SUMMARY
The research program is dedicated to delineating genetic influences on behavior, including behavioral disorders. The program includes both human studies and genetic investigations of animal models for behavioral disorders. One investigation has been a genetic linkage study of bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder. A bipolar susceptibility gene has been localized to the short arm of chromosome 18, and efforts are devoted to examining regional candidate genes for mutations which explain the linkage statistics. Genetic dissection of a murine model for opioid addiction has revealed that most of the genetic variance in voluntary morphine intake is attributable to a locus on proximal chromosome 10, where the mu opioid receptor gene maps. This suggests that naturally-occurring variation in the mu opioid receptor gene influences voluntary morphine intake. Currently, we are examining two inbred strains of mice for genetic differences in the regulation of the mu opioid receptor gene. In a human extension of this research, the mu opioid receptor gene sequence is being examined among individuals on methadone maintenance for variations which may convey risk for opioid dependence. A third area of investigation is genetic susceptibility to eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. DNA samples have been collected on ~200 pairs of siblings with anorexia nervosa. Linkage studies are being conducted to detect susceptibility loci. Sample collection for a second study of bulimia nervosa will begin shortly. A fourth area of active study is genetic susceptibility to seizure disorders. Research in a murine model of chemo-convulsant seizure susceptibility has revealed that a region of urine chromosome 1 conveys risk for seizures after exposure to two different convulsants (kainic acid and pentylenetetrazole). Efforts to examine candidate genes are currently in progress.