title: Alterations of GABA and glutamate-glutamine levels in premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a 3T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.
abstract: Increasing evidence has suggested that the GABAergic neurotransmitter system is involved in the pathogenesis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) to investigate whether PMDD is associated with alterations in brain GABA levels. Levels of glutamate-glutamine (Glx) were also explored. Participants comprised 22 women with PMDD and 22 age-matched healthy controls who underwent 3T (1)H MRS during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. GABA+ and Glx levels were quantified in the anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex (ACC/mPFC) and the left basal ganglia (ltBG). Water-scaled GABA+ concentrations and GABA+/tCr ratios were significantly lower in both the ACC/mPFC and ltBG regions of PMDD women than in healthy controls. Glx/tCr ratios were significantly higher in the ACC/mPFC region of PMDD women than healthy controls. Our preliminary findings provide the first report of abnormal levels of GABA+ and Glx in mood-related brain regions of women with PMDD, indicating that dysregulation of the amino acid neurotransmitter system may be an important neurobiological mechanism in the pathogenesis of PMDD.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Guangbin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 44, Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China. Electronic address: ekos20@163.com.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 44, Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Mingqi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 44, Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China.
authors.forename: Fuxin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Philips Healthcare, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Philips Healthcare, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Weibo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, New South Wales 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rae
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D065446:Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D005973:Glutamine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
keywords: GABA; Glutamate–glutamine; Premenstrual dysphoric syndrome; Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy