[Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the thalamus and hypothalamus in patients with first-episode depression].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of abnormal metabolism in the thalamus and hypothalamus in patients with first-episode depression.


METHODS
Thirty drug-naive patients with first-episode depression and 30 age-matched controls were scanned with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) for Naa, Cho, Cr and mI.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the patients showed significantly reduced mI and mI/Cr of the hypothalamus, reduced mI/Cr of the left thalamus, and lowered Cho, ml, and ml/Cr of the right thalamus (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with first-episode depression may have myo-inositol and phosphoric acid metabolism disorder in the thalamus and hypothalamus with malfunction of cellular osmotic pressure adjustment mechanism. Abnormal mI/Cr in the thalamus and hypothalamus may represent an important biochemical change in advanced patients with depression.
Yang
Rui
R
Department of Psychiatry, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an 710003, China. yangrui620@21cn.com
Wu
Xiao-ping
XP
Bai
Xiao-ying
XY
Ning
Wen-de
WD
Yang
Jun-le
JL
Xie
Zhi-chuan
ZC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D011522:Protons; D007294:Inositol; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline