3-T proton MRS investigation of glutamate and glutamine in adolescents at high genetic risk for schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
Glutamate and glutamine were examined in vivo in nonpsychotic adolescents at high genetic risk for schizophrenia by using 3-T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS).


METHODS
Spectra from the right medial frontal lobe of 20 adolescents who had a parent with schizophrenia (high-risk group; mean age=16.4 years) were compared with spectra obtained from adolescent offspring of parents with no history of schizophrenia (low-risk group; mean age=16.7 years).


RESULTS
Glutamate/glutamine was significantly higher in the adolescents at high genetic risk for schizophrenia than in the low-risk offspring. Age, premorbid adjustment scale scores, and other (1)H-MRS metabolites did not differ between groups. Global Assessment of Functioning Scale scores and socioeconomic status were lower in the high-risk group.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of glutamate/glutamine abnormalities in a group of subjects at high genetic risk for schizophrenia lends support for both the glutamate dysfunction and neurodevelopmental hypotheses for schizophrenia.
Tibbo
Philip
P
Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. ptibbo@ualberta.ca
Hanstock
Chris
C
Valiakalayil
Agitha
A
Allen
Peter
P
D000293:Adolescent; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012923:Social Class
D005973:Glutamine; D018698:Glutamic Acid