Metabolite alterations in the hippocampus of high-functioning adult subjects with autism.
The aim of the present study was to investigate metabolite alterations in the hippocampal formation as they relate to aggression in high-functioning adults with autism. We measured concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), and creatine plus phosphocreatine (Cr+PCr) in the hippocampal formation by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 12 non-medicated male subjects with autism and 12 age- and sex-matched controls. Aggression was scored in the autistic subjects using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. The concentrations of Cho and Cr+PCr in the hippocampal formation in autistic subjects were significantly higher than the corresponding values in control subjects, and a significant positive correlation was observed between the concentrations of these metabolites in the hippocampal formation and scores on the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire in autistic subjects. Results suggest that high-functioning adult subjects with autism have abnormal metabolite concentrations in the hippocampal formation, which may in part account for their aggression.
Suzuki
Katsuaki
K
Osaka-Hamamatsu Joint Research Center for Child Mental Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan. k-suzuki@hama-med.ac.jp
Nishimura
Katsuhiko
K
Sugihara
Genichi
G
Nakamura
Kazuhiko
K
Tsuchiya
Kenji J
KJ
Matsumoto
Kaori
K
Takebayashi
Kiyokazu
K
Isoda
Haruo
H
Sakahara
Harumi
H
Sugiyama
Toshiro
T
Tsujii
Masatsugu
M
Takei
Nori
N
Mori
Norio
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D002794:Choline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism*
D010725:Phosphocreatine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline