Reduced concentrations of thalamic N-acetylaspartate in male patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The authors measured N-acetylaspartate (a putative neuronal marker) in the right and left thalamus of 17 male patients with schizophrenia using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ((1)H MRSI).


METHODS
(1)H MRSI was performed on 17 medicated male patients with schizophrenia and 10 male comparison subjects. Concentrations of N-acetylaspartate, creatine, and choline were determined in the thalamic regions bilaterally.


RESULTS
The patients with schizophrenia demonstrated significantly lower concentrations of N-acetylaspartate than the comparison subjects in both the right and left thalamic regions. Right thalamic N-acetylaspartate and left thalamic N-acetylaspartate were significantly correlated in the patients but not in the comparison subjects. There was no association between N-acetylaspartate and duration of illness or medication dose. No group differences or lateralized asymmetries in choline or creatine were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of reduced concentrations of N-acetylaspartate bilaterally suggests neuronal dysfunction and/or loss in both the right and left thalamic regions in male patients with schizophrenia.
Deicken
R F
RF
Magnetic Resonance Unit, VA Medical Center, San Francisco, USA.
Johnson
C
C
Eliaz
Y
Y
Schuff
N
N
D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D013788:Thalamus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline