Absence of N-acetylaspartate in the human brain: impact on neurospectroscopy?
N-acetylaspartate (NAA) contributes to the most prominent signal in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of the adult human brain. We report the absence of NAA in the brain of a 3-year-old child with neurodevelopmental retardation and moderately delayed myelination. Since normal concentration of NAA in body fluids is hardly detectable, 1H-MRS is a noninvasive technique for identifying neurometabolic diseases with absent NAA. This report puts NAA as a neuronal marker to question.
Martin
E
E
Neuroradiology and Magnetic Resonance, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Capone
A
A
Schneider
J
J
Hennig
J
J
Thiel
T
T
D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*
D004151:Dipeptides; C027172:isospaglumic acid; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate