Journal article
Reduced prefrontal glutamate/glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in major depression determined using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
- Hasler G Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. g.hasler@bluewin.ch
- van der Veen JW
- Tumonis T
- Meyers N
- Shen J
- Drevets WC
- 2007-02-07
Published in:
- Archives of general psychiatry. - 2007
Adult
Ambulatory Care
Cell Count
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depressive Disorder, Major
Female
Glutamic Acid
Glutamine
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Male
Middle Aged
Neuroglia
Prefrontal Cortex
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
English
CONTEXT
Increasing evidence indicates that major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with altered function of the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. A recently developed magnetic resonance spectroscopy method allows for reliable measurement of glutamate/glutamine (Glx) and GABA concentrations in prefrontal brain regions that have been implicated in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of MDD by studies using other neuroimaging and postmortem techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To measure Glx and GABA levels in 2 regions of the prefrontal brain tissue in unmedicated adults with MDD.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional study for association.
SETTING
Psychiatric outpatient clinic.
PARTICIPANTS
Twenty unmedicated, depressed patients with MDD and 20 age- and sex-matched controls. Intervention Participants underwent scanning using a 3-T whole-body scanner with a transmit-receive head coil, providing a homogeneous radiofrequency field and the capability of obtaining spectroscopic measurements in a dorsomedial/dorsal anterolateral prefrontal region of interest (ROI) and a ventromedial prefrontal ROI.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Glx and GABA levels derived from magnetic resonance spectroscopy signals.
RESULTS
Depressed patients had reduced Glx levels in both ROIs. The GABA levels were reduced in the dorsomedial/dorsal anterolateral prefrontal ROI. Levels of GABA and Glx were positively correlated in both ROIs.
CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, GABA and Glx concentrations were compared between unmedicated depressed adults and controls in prefrontal ROIs. The abnormal reductions in Glx and GABA concentrations found in the MDD sample were compatible with findings from postmortem histopathologic studies, indicating that glial cell density is reduced in the same areas in MDD.
Increasing evidence indicates that major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with altered function of the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. A recently developed magnetic resonance spectroscopy method allows for reliable measurement of glutamate/glutamine (Glx) and GABA concentrations in prefrontal brain regions that have been implicated in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of MDD by studies using other neuroimaging and postmortem techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To measure Glx and GABA levels in 2 regions of the prefrontal brain tissue in unmedicated adults with MDD.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional study for association.
SETTING
Psychiatric outpatient clinic.
PARTICIPANTS
Twenty unmedicated, depressed patients with MDD and 20 age- and sex-matched controls. Intervention Participants underwent scanning using a 3-T whole-body scanner with a transmit-receive head coil, providing a homogeneous radiofrequency field and the capability of obtaining spectroscopic measurements in a dorsomedial/dorsal anterolateral prefrontal region of interest (ROI) and a ventromedial prefrontal ROI.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Glx and GABA levels derived from magnetic resonance spectroscopy signals.
RESULTS
Depressed patients had reduced Glx levels in both ROIs. The GABA levels were reduced in the dorsomedial/dorsal anterolateral prefrontal ROI. Levels of GABA and Glx were positively correlated in both ROIs.
CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, GABA and Glx concentrations were compared between unmedicated depressed adults and controls in prefrontal ROIs. The abnormal reductions in Glx and GABA concentrations found in the MDD sample were compatible with findings from postmortem histopathologic studies, indicating that glial cell density is reduced in the same areas in MDD.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- bronze
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1001/archpsyc.64.2.193
- PMID 17283286
- Persistent URL
- https://folia.unifr.ch/global/documents/85186
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