Effects of acute ovarian hormone suppression on the human brain: an in vivo 1H MRS study.
A previous proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) study carried out by our group indicated that post-menopausal women who started taking oestrogen therapy (ET) at or around the menopause had a significantly lower choline (Cho) concentration in the hippocampus and parietal lobe than those who were ET naïve, suggesting that long-term ET positively modulates neuronal/glial membrane turnover in older females. The objective of the current study was to determine whether neuronal membrane turnover is modulated by sex hormones in younger women following a pharmacologic challenge that induced acute ovarian hormone suppression. We carried out an in vivo(1)H MRS study in a group of 10 premenopausal women pre- and post-8 weeks of acute ovarian suppression with a Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone analogue (GnRHa) (two Zoladex 3.6 mg implants). We report that young women, post-ovarian suppression, had a significant increase in Cho concentration (and Cho/Cr ratio) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). They also showed a trend to a significant increase in Cho concentration in the hippocampus. This supports our previous findings and adds to the evidence that neuronal/glial membrane metabolism is affected by sex hormones in women.
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Section of Brain Maturation, London, UK. m.craig@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Michael C
MC
Craig
Eileen M
EM
Daly
Ruth
R
O'Gorman
Janice
J
Rymer
David
D
Lythgoe
Ginny
G
Ng
Andrew
A
Simmons
Pauline M
PM
Maki
Declan G M
DG
Murphy
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D017273:Goserelin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011522:Protons; D013997:Time Factors
D042341:Gonadal Hormones; D011522:Protons; D017273:Goserelin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D002794:Choline