Decreased relative brain tissue levels of inositol in fetal hydrocephalus.
OBJECTIVE
Inositol seems to play a role in the development of the central nervous system. In this study, the brain tissue level of inositol in fetal hydrocephalus was compared with that of healthy control subjects.


METHODS
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to examine the inositol over creatine ratio in the brain of 10 hydrocephalic human fetuses and 36 normal control subjects.


RESULTS
Resolved signals for inositol and creatine were detected successfully in six hydrocephalic fetuses and in all control subjects. The inositol over creatine ratio was significantly lower in fetuses with hydrocephalus (P <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This result supports speculations concerning the role of inositol in central nervous system development.
Kok
René D
RD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Steegers-Theunissen
Régine P M
RP
Eskes
Tom K A B
TK
Heerschap
Arend
A
van den Berg
Paul P
PP
D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology*; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000196:embryology*; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012016:Reference Values
D007294:Inositol; D003401:Creatine