title: A guide to the metabolic pathways and function of metabolites observed in human brain 1H magnetic resonance spectra.
abstract: The current knowledge of the normal biochemistry of compounds that give rise to resonances in human brain proton magnetic resonance spectra measureable at readily available field strengths (i.e. ≤3 T) is reviewed. Molecules covered include myo- and scyllo-inositol, glycerophospho- and phospho-choline and choline, creatine and phosphocreatine, N-acetylaspartate, N-acetylaspartylglutamate, glutamate, glutamine, γ-aminobutyrate, glucose, glutathione and lactate. The factors which influence changes in the levels of these compounds are discussed. As most proton resonances in the brain at low field are derived from a combination of moieties whose biochemistry is complex and interrelated, an understanding of the mechanisms underlying why these species change is crucial to meaningful interpretation of human brain spectra.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker St, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia, c.rae@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Caroline D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rae
mesh_terms: D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D011522:Protons; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007294:Inositol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline