title: Subcortical and medial temporal MR-detectable metabolite abnormalities in unipolar major depression.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether MR-detectable alterations of choline-containing compounds in two key neural systems involved in major depression disorder namely the hippocampus and the basal ganglia can be detected. Multislice proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging was applied in 11 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and ten matched healthy subjects. Voxels were selected from the left and right side of the hippocampus and the putamen. Significantly lower choline-containing compounds in the hippocampus and significantly higher choline-containing compounds in the putamen of patients with MDD compared to healthy subjects were found. No significant differences were found for the other metabolites in the two regions evaluated. Abnormal levels of choline-containing compounds most likely reflect altered membrane phospholipid metabolism. A reduced level in the hippocampus and an increased level in the putamen suggest regionally opponent membrane abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Division Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany. ende@zi-mannheim.de
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ende
authors.forename: Traute
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demirakca
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wokrina
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sartorius
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wildgruber
authors.forename: Fritz A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Henn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011699:Putamen / Q000378:metabolism; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D010725:Phosphocreatine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine