Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in subjects with high genetic risk of schizophrenia: investigation of anterior cingulate, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and thalamus.
OBJECTIVE
Reduced N-acetylaspartate levels in regions of the frontal cortex, including the anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and thalamus, involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia suggest that brain metabolite abnormalities may be a marker of genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) to acquire absolute concentrations of brain metabolites in subjects with a high genetic risk of schizophrenia to investigate the potential relationship between unexpressed genetic liability to schizophrenia and neuronal dysfunction.


METHODS
Included in the study were 22 subjects who had at least two relatives with schizophrenia (high genetic risk group) and 22 controls with no second-degree relatives with schizophrenia. Absolute concentrations of N-acetylaspartate, creatine, choline, glutamate/glutamine, and myo-inositol and the ratios of metabolites in the anterior cingulate cortex, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and left thalamus were measured using H-MRS at 1.5 Tesla.


RESULTS
Relative to the controls, the high genetic risk group showed significant differences in absolute metabolite levels in the spectra of the regions of the left thalamus, including significant decreases in N-acetylaspartate, creatine, and choline concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
The study points to neuronal dysfunction, and in particular thalamic dysfunction, as a key region of the vulnerability marker of schizophrenia. Further studies should examine the nature of the thalamus more intensively to further our understanding of thalamic dysfunction as a vulnerability marker.
Yoo
So Young
SY
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yeon
Suran
S
Choi
Chi-Hoon
CH
Kang
Do-Hyung
DH
Lee
Jong-Min
JM
Shin
Na Young
NY
Jung
Wi Hoon
WH
Choi
Jung-Seok
JS
Jang
Dong-Pyo
DP
Kwon
Jun Soo
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D011522:Protons; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline