title: Adverse childhood experiences associate to reduced glutamate levels in the hippocampus of patients affected by mood disorders.
abstract: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) can possibly permanently alter the stress response system, affect the glutamatergic system and influence hippocampal volume in mood disorders. The aim of the study is to investigate the association between glutamate levels in the hippocampus, measured through single proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and ACE in patients affected by mood disorders and healthy controls. Higher levels of early stress associate to reduced levels of Glx/Cr in the hippocampus in depressed patients but not in healthy controls. Exposure to stress during early life could lead to a hypofunctionality of the glutamatergic system in the hippocampus of depressed patients. Abnormalities of glutamatergic signaling could then possibly underpin the structural and functional abnormalities observed in patients affected by mood disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy; C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.. Electronic address: poletti.sara@hsr.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.affiliation: C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.; Department of Neuroradiology, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falini
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy; C.E.R.M.A.C. (Centro di Eccellenza Risonanza Magnetica ad Alto Campo), University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benedetti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D003401:Creatine; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005973:Glutamine; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D003401:Creatine
keywords: Early stress; Glutamate; Mood disorders; Spectroscopy