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Perdue MV, DeMayo MM, Bell TK, Boudes E, Bagshawe M, Harris AD, Lebel C. Changes in brain metabolite levels across childhood. Neuroimage 2023; 274:120087. [PMID: 37080345 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolites play important roles in brain development and their levels change rapidly in the prenatal period and during infancy. Metabolite levels are thought to stabilize during childhood, but the development of neurochemistry across early-middle childhood remains understudied. We examined the developmental changes of key metabolites (total N-acetylaspartate, tNAA; total choline, tCho; total creatine, tCr; glutamate+glutamine, Glx; and myo-inositol, mI) using short echo-time magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the left temporo-parietal cortex (LTP) using a mixed cross-sectional/longitudinal design in children aged 2-11 years (ACC: N=101 children, 112 observations; LTP: N=95 children, 318 observations). We found age-related effects for all metabolites. tNAA increased with age in both regions, while tCho decreased with age in both regions. tCr increased with age in the LTP only, and mI decreased with age in the ACC only. Glx did not show linear age effects in either region, but a follow-up analysis in only participants with ≥3 datapoints in the LTP revealed a quadratic effect of age following an inverted U-shape. These substantial changes in neurochemistry throughout childhood likely underlie various processes of structural and functional brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan V Perdue
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary
| | - Marilena M DeMayo
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary; Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education; Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary
| | - Tiffany K Bell
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary
| | | | - Mercedes Bagshawe
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
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La PL, Joyce JM, Bell TK, Mauthner M, Craig W, Doan Q, Beauchamp MH, Zemek R, Yeates KO, Harris AD. Brain metabolites measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pediatric concussion and orthopedic injury: An Advancing Concussion Assessment in Pediatrics (A-CAP) study. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:2493-2508. [PMID: 36763547 PMCID: PMC10028643 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Millions of children sustain a concussion annually. Concussion disrupts cellular signaling and neural pathways within the brain but the resulting metabolic disruptions are not well characterized. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can examine key brain metabolites (e.g., N-acetyl Aspartate (tNAA), glutamate (Glx), creatine (tCr), choline (tCho), and myo-Inositol (mI)) to better understand these disruptions. In this study, we used MRS to examine differences in brain metabolites between children and adolescents with concussion versus orthopedic injury. Children and adolescents with concussion (n = 361) or orthopedic injury (OI) (n = 184) aged 8 to 17 years were recruited from five emergency departments across Canada. MRS data were collected from the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) using point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) at 3 T at a mean of 12 days post-injury (median 10 days post-injury, range 2-33 days). Univariate analyses for each metabolite found no statistically significant metabolite differences between groups. Within each analysis, several covariates were statistically significant. Follow-up analyses designed to account for possible confounding factors including age, site, scanner, vendor, time since injury, and tissue type (and interactions as appropriate) did not find any metabolite group differences. In the largest sample of pediatric concussion studied with MRS to date, we found no metabolite differences between concussion and OI groups in the L-DLPFC. We suggest that at 2 weeks post-injury in a general pediatric concussion population, brain metabolites in the L-DLPFC are not specifically affected by brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parker L La
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Julie M Joyce
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tiffany K Bell
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Micaela Mauthner
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - William Craig
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta and Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Quynh Doan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Miriam H Beauchamp
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal and Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Roger Zemek
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Childrens' Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Keith Owen Yeates
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Illapani VSP, Edmondson DA, Cecil KM, Altaye M, Kumar M, Harpster K, Parikh NA. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy brain metabolites at term and 3-year neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants. Pediatr Res 2022; 92:299-306. [PMID: 33654289 PMCID: PMC8410891 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01434-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noninvasive advanced neuroimaging and neurochemical assessment can identify subtle abnormalities and predict neurodevelopmental impairments. Our objective was to quantify white matter metabolite levels and evaluate their relationship with neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 3 years. METHODS Our study evaluated a longitudinal prospective cohort of very premature infants (<32 weeks gestational age) with single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy from the centrum semiovale performed at term-equivalent age and standardized cognitive, verbal, and motor assessments at 3 years corrected age. We separately examined metabolite ratios in the left and right centrum semiovale. We also conducted an exploratory interaction analysis for high/low socioeconomic status (SES) to evaluate the relationship between metabolites and neurodevelopmental outcomes, after adjusting for confounders. RESULTS We found significant relationships between choline/creatine levels in the left and right centrum semiovale and motor development scores. Exploratory interaction analyses revealed that, for infants with low SES, there was a negative association between choline/creatine in the left centrum semiovale and motor assessment scores at age 3 years. CONCLUSIONS Brain metabolites from the centrum semiovale at term-equivalent age were associated with motor outcomes for very preterm infants at 3 years corrected age. This effect may be most pronounced for infants with low SES. IMPACT Motor development at 3 years corrected age for very preterm infants is inversely associated with choline neurochemistry within the centrum semiovale on magnetic resonance spectroscopy at term-equivalent age, especially in infants with low socioeconomic status. No prior studies have studied metabolites in the centrum semiovale to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years corrected age based on high/low socioeconomic status. For very preterm infants with lower socioeconomic status, higher choline-to-creatine ratio in central white matter is associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David A. Edmondson
- Imaging Research Center, Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Kim M. Cecil
- Imaging Research Center, Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH;,Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Mekibib Altaye
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, INDIA
| | - Karen Harpster
- Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Nehal A. Parikh
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH,Corresponding author’s contact information: Nehal A. Parikh, DO, MS, Professor of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 7009, Cincinnati, OH 45229, (513) 636-7584 (Business), (513) 803-0969 (Fax),
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Proton MR Spectroscopy of Pediatric Brain Disorders. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12061462. [PMID: 35741272 PMCID: PMC9222059 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12061462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In vivo MR spectroscopy is a non -invasive methodology that provides information about the biochemistry of tissues. It is available as a “push-button” application on state-of-the-art clinical MR scanners. MR spectroscopy has been used to study various brain diseases including tumors, stroke, trauma, degenerative disorders, epilepsy/seizures, inborn errors, neuropsychiatric disorders, and others. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of MR spectroscopy findings in the pediatric population and its clinical use.
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The Lifespan Trajectory of the Encoding-Retrieval Flip: A Multimodal Examination of Medial Parietal Cortex Contributions to Episodic Memory. J Neurosci 2018; 38:8666-8679. [PMID: 30143571 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1702-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of episodic memories is associated with deactivation during encoding and activation during retrieval in the posteromedial cortex (PMC). We hypothesized that the encoding/retrieval (E/R) flip is a critical component of episodic memory across the lifespan because structural and metabolic changes in the PMC coincide with the fine tuning of the episodic memory system in development and the reductions of memory performance in aging. The aims of the present study were, first, to describe lifespan trajectories of PMC encoding and retrieval activity in 270 human participants (167 females) from 6 to 80 years of age. Our second goal was to construct a model for episodic memory development in which contributions from brain activity, cortical thickness (CT), and structural connectivity are accounted for. We found that modulation of neural activity in response to memory encoding and retrieval demands was not fully developed until adolescence and decreased from adulthood through old age. The magnitude of the E/R flip was related to source memory and 55% of the age-related variance in source memory performance during childhood and adolescence could be accounted for by the E/R flip, CT, and mean diffusivity together. However, only CT and the E/R flip provided unique contributions with which to explain memory performance. The results suggest that neural dynamics in the PMC is related to the development of episodic memory during childhood and adolescence. The similar trajectories of the E/R flip and episodic memory emergence and decline through development and aging further suggests that a lifelong relationship exists.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Modulation of neural activity in the posteromedial cortex (PMC) in response to memory encoding/retrieval (E/R) demands (E/R flip) does not reach its peak until adolescence and decreases from adulthood through old age. The magnitude of the E/R flip is related to source memory and 55% of the age-related variance in source memory performance during childhood and adolescence can be accounted for by the E/R flip and brain structure together. The results suggest that neural dynamics in the PMC is related to the development of episodic memory function during childhood and adolescence and the similar trajectories of the E/R flip and episodic memory performance through development and aging suggests that a lifelong relationship exists.
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Gertsvolf N, Votava-Smith JK, Ceschin R, Del Castillo S, Lee V, Lai HA, Bluml S, Paquette L, Panigrahy A. Association between Subcortical Morphology and Cerebral White Matter Energy Metabolism in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14057. [PMID: 30232359 PMCID: PMC6145929 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32288-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Complex congenital heart disease (CHD) is associated with neurodevelopmental impairment, the mechanism of which is unknown. Cerebral cortical dysmaturation in CHD is linked to white matter abnormalities, including developmental vulnerability of the subplate, in relation to oxygen delivery and metabolism deficits. In this study, we report associations between subcortical morphology and white matter metabolism in neonates with CHD using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). Multi-modal brain imaging was performed in three groups of neonates close to term-equivalent age: (1) term CHD (n = 56); (2) preterm CHD (n = 37) and (3) preterm control group (n = 22). Thalamic volume and cerebellar transverse diameter were obtained in relation to cerebral metrics and white matter metabolism. Short echo single-voxel MRS of parietal and frontal white matter was used to quantitate metabolites related to brain maturation (n-acetyl aspartate [NAA], choline, myo-inositol), neurotransmitter (glutamate), and energy metabolism (glutamine, citrate, creatine and lactate). Multi-variate regression was performed to delineate associations between subcortical morphological measurements and white matter metabolism controlling for age and white matter injury. Reduced thalamic volume, most pronounced in the preterm control group, was associated with increased citrate levels in all three group in the parietal white matter. In contrast, reduced cerebellar volume, most pronounced in the preterm CHD group, was associated with reduced glutamine in parietal grey matter in both CHD groups. Single ventricle anatomy, aortic arch obstruction, and cyanotic lesion were predictive of the relationship between reduced subcortical morphometry and reduced GLX (particularly glutamine) in both CHD cohorts (frontal white matter and parietal grey matter). Subcortical morphological associations with brain metabolism were also distinct within each of the three groups, suggesting these relationships in the CHD groups were not directly related to prematurity or white matter injury alone. Taken together, these findings suggest that subplate vulnerability in CHD is likely relevant to understanding the mechanism of both cortical and subcortical dysmaturation in CHD infants. Future work is needed to link this potential pattern of encephalopathy of CHD (including the constellation of grey matter, white matter and brain metabolism deficits) to not only abnormal fetal substrate delivery and oxygen conformance, but also regional deficits in cerebral energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Gertsvolf
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jodie K Votava-Smith
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rafael Ceschin
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Sylvia Del Castillo
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vince Lee
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Hollie A Lai
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stefan Bluml
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Paquette
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ashok Panigrahy
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Cichocka M, Bereś A. From fetus to older age: A review of brain metabolic changes across the lifespan. Ageing Res Rev 2018; 46:60-73. [PMID: 29864489 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The knowledge of metabolic changes across the lifespan is poorly understood. Thus we systematically reviewed the available literature to determine the changes in brain biochemical composition from fetus to older age and tried to explain them in the context of neural, cognitive, and behavioural changes. METHODS The search identified 1262 articles regarding proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) examinations through December 2017. The following data was extracted: age range of the subjects, number of subjects studied, brain regions studied, MRS sequence used, echo time, MR system, method of statistical analysis, metabolites analyzed, significant differences in metabolites concentrations with age as well as the way of presentation of the results. RESULTS 82 studies that described brain metabolite changes with age were identified. Reports on metabolic changes related to healthy aging were analyzed and discussed among six basic age groups: fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly as well as between groups and during the whole lifetime. DISCUSSION The results presented in the reviewed papers provide evidence that normal aging is associated with a number of metabolic changes characteristic for every period of life. Therefore, it can be concluded that the age matching is essential for comparative studies of disease states using 1H MRS.
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Ryan MC, Kochunov P, Sherman PM, Rowland LM, Wijtenburg SA, Acheson A, Hong LE, Sladky J, McGuire S. Miniature pig magnetic resonance spectroscopy model of normal adolescent brain development. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 308:173-182. [PMID: 30099002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We are developing the miniature pig (Sus scrofa domestica), an in-vivo translational, gyrencephalic model for brain development, as an alternative to laboratory rodents/non-human primates. We analyzed longitudinal changes in adolescent pigs using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and examined the relationship with white matter (WM) integrity derived from diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). NEW METHOD Twelve female Sinclair™ pigs underwent three imaging/spectroscopy sessions every 23.95 ± 3.73 days beginning at three months of age using a clinical 3 T scanner. 1H-MRS data were collected using 1.2 × 1.0 × 3.0 cm voxels placed in left and right hemisphere WM using a Point Resolved Spectroscopy sequence (TR = 2000 ms, TE = 30 ms). Concentrations of N-acetylaspartate, myo-inositol (MI), glutamate + glutamine, choline, creatine, and macromolecules (MM) 09 and 14 were averaged from both hemispheres. DWI data were collected using 15 shells of b-values (b = 0-3500 s/mm2) with 32 directions/shell and fit using the WM Tract Integrity model to calculate fractional anisotropy (FA), kurtosis anisotropy (KA) and permeability-diffusivity index. RESULTS MI and MM09 significantly declined with age. Increased FA and KA significantly correlated with decline in MI and MM09. Correlations lost significance once corrected for age. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS MRI scanners/protocols can be used to collect 1H-MRS and DWI data in pigs. Pigs have a larger, more complex, gyrencephalic brain than laboratory rodents but are less complex than non-human primates, thus satisfying the "replacement" principle of animal research. CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal effects in MRS measurements were similar to those reported in adolescent humans. MRS changes correlated with diffusion measurements indicating ongoing WM myelination/maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghann C Ryan
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - Paul M Sherman
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aeromedical Research Department, 2510 5th Street, Building 840, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7913, United States; Department of Radiology, 59thMedical Wing, 1100 Wilford Hall Loop, Bldg 4551, Joint Base San Antonio, TX, 78236, United States.
| | - Laura M Rowland
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - S Andrea Wijtenburg
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - Ashley Acheson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham St., Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - John Sladky
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aeromedical Research Department, 2510 5th Street, Building 840, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7913, United States; Department of Neurology, 59th Medical Wing, 1100 Wilford Hall Loop, Bldg 4551, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland AFB, TX, 78236, United States.
| | - Stephen McGuire
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, United States.
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Makaryus R, Lee H, Robinson J, Enikolopov G, Benveniste H. Noninvasive Tracking of Anesthesia Neurotoxicity in the Developing Rodent Brain. Anesthesiology 2018; 129:118-130. [PMID: 29688900 PMCID: PMC6008207 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000002229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Potential deleterious effect of multiple anesthesia exposures on the developing brain remains a clinical concern. We hypothesized that multiple neonatal anesthesia exposures are more detrimental to brain maturation than an equivalent single exposure, with more pronounced long-term behavioral consequences. We designed a translational approach using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in rodents, noninvasively tracking the neuronal marker N-acetyl-aspartate, in addition to tracking behavioral outcomes. METHODS Trajectories of N-acetyl-aspartate in anesthesia naïve rats (n = 62, postnatal day 5 to 35) were determined using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, creating an "N-acetyl-aspartate growth chart." This chart was used to compare the effects of a single 6-h sevoflurane exposure (postnatal day 7) to three 2-h exposures (postnatal days 5, 7, 10). Long-term effects on behavior were separately examined utilizing novel object recognition, open field testing, and Barnes maze tasks. RESULTS Utilizing the N-acetyl-aspartate growth chart, deviations from the normal trajectory were documented in both single and multiple exposure groups, with z-scores (mean ± SD) of -0.80 ± 0.58 (P = 0.003) and -1.87 ± 0.58 (P = 0.002), respectively. Behavioral testing revealed that, in comparison with unexposed and single-exposed, multiple-exposed animals spent the least time with the novel object in novel object recognition (F(2,44) = 4.65, P = 0.015), traveled the least distance in open field testing (F(2,57) = 4.44, P = 0.016), but exhibited no learning deficits in the Barnes maze. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate the feasibility of using the biomarker N-acetyl-aspartate, measured noninvasively using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, for longitudinally monitoring anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity. These results also indicate that the neonatal rodent brain is more vulnerable to multiple anesthesia exposures than to a single exposure of the same cumulative duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rany Makaryus
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Hedok Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - John Robinson
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Grigori Enikolopov
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Helene Benveniste
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
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Hyodo R, Sato Y, Ito M, Sugiyama Y, Ogawa C, Kawai H, Nakane T, Saito A, Hirakawa A, Kidokoro H, Natsume J, Hayakawa M. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in preterm infants: association with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2018; 103:F238-F244. [PMID: 28724545 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) metabolite ratios in preterm infants at term-equivalent age with those in term infants and to evaluate the association between MRS metabolites and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months corrected age in preterm infants. DESIGN We studied infants born at a gestational age <37 weeks and weighing <1500 g during 2009-2013 using MRS at term-equivalent age. Infants with major brain abnormalities were excluded. The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to creatine (Cre), NAA to choline-containing compounds (Cho) and Cho to Cre in the frontal white matter and thalamus were measured using multivoxel point-resolved proton spectroscopy sequence. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 18 months corrected age. RESULTS Thirty-three preterm infants and 16 term infants were enrolled in this study. Preterm infants with normal development at 18 months showed significantly lower NAA/Cho ratios in the frontal white matter than term infants. There were no differences in the Cre/Cho ratios between preterm and term infants. At 18 months corrected age, 9 preterm infants with a mild developmental delay showed significantly lower NAA/Cho ratios in the thalamus than 24 preterm infants with normal development. CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants at term-equivalent age showed reduced MRS metabolites (NAA/Cho) compared with term infants. Decreased NAA/Cho ratios in the thalamus were associated with neurodevelopmental delay at 18 months corrected age in preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reina Hyodo
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Sato
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Miharu Ito
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Sugiyama
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Chikako Ogawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hisashi Kawai
- Department of Radiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Toshiki Nakane
- Department of Radiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akiko Saito
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akihiro Hirakawa
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kidokoro
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Jun Natsume
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hayakawa
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
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11
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Raschke F, Noeske R, Dineen RA, Auer DP. Measuring Cerebral and Cerebellar Glutathione in Children Using 1H MEGA-PRESS MRS. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2017; 39:375-379. [PMID: 29242361 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a5457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Glutathione is an important antioxidant in the human brain and therefore of interest in neurodegenerative disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of measuring glutathione in healthy nonsedated children by using the 1H Mescher-Garwood point-resolved spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS) sequence at 3T and to compare glutathione levels between the medial parietal gray matter and the cerebellum. MATERIALS AND METHODS Glutathione was measured using MEGA-PRESS MRS (TR = 1.8 seconds, TE = 131 ms) in the parietal gray matter (35 × 25 × 20 mm3) of 6 healthy children (10.0 ± 2.4 years of age; range, 7-14 years; 3 males) and in the cerebellum of 11 healthy children (12.0 ± 2.7 years of age; range, 7-16 years; 6 males). A postprocessing pipeline was developed to account for frequency and phase variations in the edited ON and nonedited OFF spectra. Metabolites were quantified with LCModel and reported both as ratios and water-scaled values. Glutathione was quantified in the ON-OFF spectra, whereas total NAA, total Cho, total Cr, mIns, Glx, and taurine were quantified in the OFF spectra. RESULTS We found significantly higher glutathione, total Cho, total Cr, mIns, and taurine in the cerebellum (P < .01). Glx and total NAA were significantly higher in the parietal gray matter (P < .01). There was no significant difference in glutathione/total Cr (P = .93) between parietal gray matter and cerebellum. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that glutathione measurement in nonsedated children is feasible. We found significantly higher glutathione in the cerebellum compared with the parietal gray matter. Metabolite differences between the parietal gray matter and cerebellum agree with published MRS data in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Raschke
- From the National Center for Tumor Diseases (F.R.), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (F.R.), Heidelberg, Germany.,Medical Faculty and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus (F.R.), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Helmholtz Association/Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf (F.R.), Dresden, Germany
| | - R Noeske
- GE Healthcare (R.N.), Applied Science Lab Europe, Berlin, Germany
| | - R A Dineen
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (R.A.D., D.P.A.), University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK .,Radiological Sciences, (R.A.D., D.P.A.), Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,National Institute for Health Research (R.A.D., D.P.A.), Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - D P Auer
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (R.A.D., D.P.A.), University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,Radiological Sciences, (R.A.D., D.P.A.), Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,National Institute for Health Research (R.A.D., D.P.A.), Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK
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12
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Ghosh N, Holshouser B, Oyoyo U, Barnes S, Tong K, Ashwal S. Combined Diffusion Tensor and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging Methodology for Automated Regional Brain Analysis: Application in a Normal Pediatric Population. Dev Neurosci 2017. [PMID: 28651252 DOI: 10.1159/000475545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
During human brain development, anatomic regions mature at different rates. Quantitative anatomy-specific analysis of longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) data may improve our ability to quantify and categorize these maturational changes. Computational tools designed to quickly fuse and analyze imaging information from multiple, technically different datasets would facilitate research on changes during normal brain maturation and for comparison to disease states. In the current study, we developed a complete battery of computational tools to execute such data analyses that include data preprocessing, tract-based statistical analysis from DTI data, automated brain anatomy parsing from T1-weighted MR images, assignment of metabolite information from MRSI data, and co-alignment of these multimodality data streams for reporting of region-specific indices. We present statistical analyses of regional DTI and MRSI data in a cohort of normal pediatric subjects (n = 72; age range: 5-18 years; mean 12.7 ± 3.3 years) to establish normative data and evaluate maturational trends. Several regions showed significant maturational changes for several DTI parameters and MRSI ratios, but the percent change over the age range tended to be small. In the subcortical region (combined basal ganglia [BG], thalami [TH], and corpus callosum [CC]), the largest combined percent change was a 10% increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) primarily due to increases in the BG (12.7%) and TH (9%). The largest significant percent increase in N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratio was seen in the brain stem (BS) (18.8%) followed by the subcortical regions in the BG (11.9%), CC (8.9%), and TH (6.0%). We found consistent, significant (p < 0.01), but weakly positive correlations (r = 0.228-0.329) between NAA/Cr ratios and mean FA in the BS, BG, and CC regions. Age- and region-specific normative MR diffusion and spectroscopic metabolite ranges show brain maturation changes and are requisite for detecting abnormalities in an injured or diseased population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirmalya Ghosh
- Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
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13
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Harbison AL, Votava-Smith JK, del Castillo S, Kumar SR, Lee V, Schmithorst V, Lai HA, O'Neil S, Bluml S, Paquette L, Panigrahy A. Clinical Factors Associated with Cerebral Metabolism in Term Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease. J Pediatr 2017; 183:67-73.e1. [PMID: 28109537 PMCID: PMC5368020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.12.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine associations between patient and clinical factors with postnatal brain metabolism in term neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) via the use of quantitative magnetic resonance spectroscopy. STUDY DESIGN Neonates with CHD were enrolled prospectively to undergo pre- and postoperative 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging. Short-echo single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy of parietal white matter was used to quantify metabolites related to brain maturation (n-acetyl aspartate, choline, myo- inositol), neurotransmitters (glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid), energy metabolism (glutamine, citrate, glucose, and phosphocreatine), and injury/apoptosis (lactate and lipids). Multivariable regression was performed to search for associations between (1) patient-specific/prenatal/preoperative factors with concurrent brain metabolism and (2) intraoperative and postoperative factors with postoperative brain metabolism. RESULTS A total of 83 magnetic resonance images were obtained on 55 subjects. No patient-specific, prenatal, or preoperative factors associated with concurrent metabolic brain dysmaturation or elevated lactate could be identified. Chromosome 22q11 microdeletion and age at surgery were predictive of altered concurrent white matter phosphocreatine (P < .0055). The only significant intraoperative association found was increased deep hypothermic circulatory arrest time with reduced postoperative white matter glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (P < .0072). Multiple postoperative factors, including increased number of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation days (P < .0067), intensive care unit, length of stay (P < .0047), seizures in the intensive care unit (P < .0009), and home antiepileptic use (P < .0002), were associated with reduced postoperative white matter n-acetyl aspartate. CONCLUSION Multiple postoperative factors were found to be associated with altered brain metabolism in term infants with CHD, but not patient-specific, preoperative, or intraoperative factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lonyai Harbison
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jodie K. Votava-Smith
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Sylvia del Castillo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - S. Ram Kumar
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles/University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Vince Lee
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Vincent Schmithorst
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Hollie A. Lai
- Division of Radiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Sharon O'Neil
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Stefan Bluml
- Division of Radiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Lisa Paquette
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ashok Panigrahy
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.
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Lebel C, MacMaster FP, Dewey D. Brain metabolite levels and language abilities in preschool children. Brain Behav 2016; 6:e00547. [PMID: 27781150 PMCID: PMC5064348 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Language acquisition occurs rapidly during early childhood and lays the foundation for future reading success. However, little is known about the brain-language relationships in young children. The goal of this study was to investigate relationships between brain metabolites and prereading language abilities in healthy preschool-aged children. METHODS Participants were 67 healthy children aged 3.0-5.4 years scanned on a 3T GE MR750w MRI scanner using short echo proton spectroscopy with a voxel placed in the anterior cingulate gyrus (n = 56) and/or near the left angular gyrus (n = 45). Children completed the NEPSY-II Phonological Processing and Speeded Naming subtests at the same time as their MRI scan. We calculated glutamate, glutamine, creatine/phosphocreatine, choline, inositol, and NAA concentrations, and correlated these with language skills. RESULTS In the anterior cingulate, Phonological Processing Scaled Scores were significantly correlated with glutamate, creatine, and inositol concentrations. In the left angular gyrus, Speeded Naming Combined Scaled Scores showed trend correlations with choline and glutamine concentrations. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, we demonstrate relationships between brain metabolites and prereading language abilities in young children. Our results show relationships between language and inositol and glutamate that may reflect glial differences underlying language function, and a relationship of language with creatine. The trend between Speeded Naming and choline is consistent with previous research in older children and adults; however, larger sample sizes are needed to confirm whether this relationship is indeed significant in young children. These findings help understand the brain basis of language, and may ultimately lead to earlier and more effective interventions for reading disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Lebel
- Department of Radiology University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada; Child & Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
| | - Frank P MacMaster
- Child & Adolescent Imaging Research (CAIR) Program Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada; Department of Pediatrics University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada; Department of Psychiatry University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada; Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education Hotchkiss Brain Institute University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada; Strategic Clinical Network for Addictions and Mental Health Alberta Health Services University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Pediatrics University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada; Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada
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15
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Wu Y, Pearce PS, Rapuano A, Hitchens TK, de Lanerolle NC, Pan JW. Metabolic changes in early poststatus epilepticus measured by MR spectroscopy in rats. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2015; 35:1862-70. [PMID: 26104287 PMCID: PMC4635243 DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2015.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 05/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
There is little experimental in vivo data on how differences in seizure duration in experimental status epilepticus influence metabolic injury. This is of interest given that in humans, status duration is a factor that influences the probability of subsequent development of epilepsy. This question is studied using 7-T magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, T2 relaxometry in the incremented kainate rodent model of temporal lobe epilepsy, using two durations of status epilepticus, 1.5 and 3 hours. Histologic evaluation was performed in a subset of animals. Three days after status, single-voxel (8 mm(3)) point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) MR spectroscopic measurements were acquired at 7 T to assess the cerebral metabolites measured as a ratio to total creatine (tCr). The status injury resulted in decreased N-acetylaspartate NAA/tCr, increased myo-inositol/tCr and glutamine/tCr, increased T2, and significant declines in NeuN-stained neuronal counts in both status groups. Regressions were identified in the status groups that provide evidence for neuronal injury and astrocytic reaction after status in both the short and long status duration groups. The long status group displays changes in glutathione/tCr that are not identified in the short status group, this difference possibly representing a maturation of injury and antioxidant response that occurs in synchrony with glutamatergic injury and glial activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijen Wu
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Patrice S Pearce
- Departments of Neurology and Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amedeo Rapuano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - T Kevin Hitchens
- Pittsburgh NMR Center for Biomedical Research, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nihal C de Lanerolle
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jullie W Pan
- Departments of Neurology and Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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16
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Subcortical glutamate mediates the reduction of short-range functional connectivity with age in a developmental cohort. J Neurosci 2015; 35:8433-41. [PMID: 26041912 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4375-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Marked changes in brain physiology and structure take place between childhood and adulthood, including changes in functional connectivity and changes in the balance between main excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters glutamate (Glu) and GABA. The balance of these neurotransmitters is thought to underlie neural activity in general and functional connectivity networks in particular, but so far no studies have investigated the relationship between human development related differences in these neurotransmitters and concomitant changes in functional connectivity. GABA+/H2O and Glu/H2O levels were acquired in a group of healthy children, adolescents, and adults in a subcortical (basal ganglia) region, as well as in a frontal region in adolescents and adults. Our results showed higher GABA+/Glu with age in both the subcortical and the frontal voxel, which were differentially associated with significantly lower Glu/H2O with age in the subcortical voxel and by significantly higher GABA+/H2O with age in the frontal voxel. Using a seed-to-voxel analysis, we were further able to show that functional connectivity between the putamen (seed) and other subcortical structures was lower with age. Lower subcortical Glu/H2O with age mediated the lower connectivity in the dorsal putamen. Based on these results, and the potential role of Glu in synaptic pruning, we suggest that lower Glu mediates a reduction of local connectivity during human development.
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