title: [In-vivo analysis for human brain maturation using MRI].
abstract: The evaluation of human brain maturation in vivo is a significant problem for pediatric neurologists. MRI, especially Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and (1)H-MR Spectroscopy (MRS), can be a powerful method to solve this problem. A decrease in three eigenvalues (Δλ1 < Δλ2 ≒ Δλ3) and an increase in Fractional Anisotropy, as a function of brain maturation, was identified in the frontal and parietal white matter using DTI, which is a non-invasive imaging technique capable of providing a quantitative view of neural fibers and micro-environmental alterations during the myelination period.MRS, a powerful technique capable non-invasively quantifying N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), a marker for neurons, glutamate (Glu), an excitatory neurotransmitter, and creatine (Cr), revealed a decrease in the Glu/Cr ratio, but found no changes to the NAA/Cr ratio with maturational changes in brain networks, such as a decrease in cortical synaptic density (refinement).Therefore, we suggest these two MRI techniques, DTI and MRS, can be used to provide direct, non-invasive information on brain maturation in vivo, which we believe will help elucidate the pathophysiology behind neurodevelopmental disorders that disrupt normal brain maturation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Human Brain Science, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005971:Glutamates; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents