Decreased left frontal lobe N-acetylaspartate in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The authors measured N-acetylaspartate (a putative neuronal marker), using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI), in the frontal lobes of schizophrenic patients and normal subjects.


METHODS
Frontal lobe 1H-MRSI was performed bilaterally on 24 medicated schizophrenic patients and 15 healthy comparison subjects. Levels of N-acetylaspartate, creatine, and choline were determined.


RESULTS
Relative to the comparison group, the patients with schizophrenia demonstrated significantly lower levels of N-acetylaspartate in the left frontal lobe. There was no association between level of N-acetylaspartate and duration of illness or medication dosage. No differences between groups or lateralized asymmetries in choline or creatine were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study provides support for decreased N-acetylaspartate in the left frontal lobe in schizophrenia and neuronal dysfunction in this brain region.
Deicken
R F
RF
Magnetic Resonance Unit, VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
Zhou
L
L
Corwin
F
F
Vinogradov
S
S
Weiner
M W
MW
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers; D002452:Cell Count; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005911:Gliosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline