title: Myelin and axon abnormalities in schizophrenia measured with magnetic resonance imaging techniques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In schizophrenia (SZ), disturbances in integration of activity among brain regions seem to be as important as abnormal activity of any single region. Brain regions are connected through white matter (WM) tracts, and diffusion tensor imaging has provided compelling evidence for WM abnormalities in SZ. However, diffusion tensor imaging alone cannot currently pinpoint the biological basis of these abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we combined a myelin-specific and an axon-specific magnetic resonance imaging approach to examine potentially distinct abnormalities of WM components in SZ. Magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) provides information on myelin content, whereas diffusion tensor spectroscopy provides information on metabolite diffusion within axons. We collected data from a 1 × 3 × 3 cm voxel within the right prefrontal cortex WM at 4 Tesla and studied 23 patients with SZ and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy control participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MTR was significantly reduced in SZ, suggesting reduced myelin content. By contrast, the apparent diffusion coefficient of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) was significantly elevated, suggesting intra-axonal abnormalities. Greater abnormality of both MTR and the apparent diffusion coefficient of NAA correlated with more adverse outcomes in the patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that WM abnormalities in SZ include both abnormal myelination and abnormal NAA diffusion within axons. These processes might be associated with abnormal signal transduction and abnormal information processing in SZ.
authors.affiliation: McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Alissa J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Thida
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thida
authors.forename: Ann K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shinn
authors.forename: Bruce M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Dost
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ongür
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Diffusion; N-acetylaspartate; frontal lobe; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; magnetization transfer ratio; white matter