Go Back Research Article January, 2015

Cross-sex hormone treatment in male-to-female transsexual persons reduces serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

Author Peer Briken Author Johannes FUSS Author Matthias K. Auer Author med. Günter K. Stalla Author med. Rainer Hellweg Author Eva Van Caenegem Author Guy T'Sjoen

Abstract

Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are reduced in male-to-female transsexual persons (MtF) compared to male controls. It was hypothesized before that this might reflect either an involvement of BDNF in a biomechanism of transsexualism or to be the result of persistent social stress due to the condition. Here, we demonstrate that 12 month of cross-sex hormone treatment reduces serum BDNF levels in male-to-female transsexual persons independent of anthropometric measures. Participants were acquired through the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI). Reduced serum BDNF in MtF thus seems to be a result of hormonal treatment rather than a consequence or risk factor of transsexualism.

Keywords

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor BDNF Male-to-Female Transsexual Persons Cross-Sex Hormone Treatment Social Stress Transsexualism Hormonal Treatment Anthropometric Measures Gender Incongruence ENIGI Serum BDNF Levels Biomechanism Risk Factor Hormonal Effects Psychological Impact Gender Identity Research
Details
Volume 25
Issue 1
Pages 95-99
DOI 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.11.019
ISSN 1873-7862
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