In vivo H-1-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of amygdala-hippocampal and parietal regions in autism

TY - JOUR

T1 - In vivo H-1-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of amygdala-hippocampal and parietal regions in autism

AU - Page, L A

AU - Daly, E

AU - Schmitz, N

AU - Simmons, A

AU - Toal, F

AU - Deeley, Q

AU - Ambery, F

AU - McAlanon, G

AU - Murphy, K

AU - Murphy, D G M

PY - 2006/12

Y1 - 2006/12

N2 - Objective: The neural basis for autistic spectrum disorders is unclear, but abnormalities in the development of limbic areas and of glutamate have been suggested. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1-MRS) can be used to measure the concentration of brain metabolites. However, the concentration of glutamate/glutamine in brain regions implicated in autistic spectrum disorders has not yet been examined in vivo. Method: The authors used 1H-MRS to investigate the neuronal integrity of the amygdala-hippocampal complex and a parietal control region in adults with autistic spectrum disorders and healthy subjects. Results: People with autistic spectrum disorders had a significantly higher concentration of glutamate/glutamine and creatine/phosphocreatine in the amygdala-hippocampal region but not in the parietal region. Conclusions: Abnormalities in glutamate/glutamine may partially underpin the pathophysiology of autistic spectrum disorders, and the authors confirm earlier reports that limbic areas are metabolically aberrant in these disorders

AB - Objective: The neural basis for autistic spectrum disorders is unclear, but abnormalities in the development of limbic areas and of glutamate have been suggested. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1-MRS) can be used to measure the concentration of brain metabolites. However, the concentration of glutamate/glutamine in brain regions implicated in autistic spectrum disorders has not yet been examined in vivo. Method: The authors used 1H-MRS to investigate the neuronal integrity of the amygdala-hippocampal complex and a parietal control region in adults with autistic spectrum disorders and healthy subjects. Results: People with autistic spectrum disorders had a significantly higher concentration of glutamate/glutamine and creatine/phosphocreatine in the amygdala-hippocampal region but not in the parietal region. Conclusions: Abnormalities in glutamate/glutamine may partially underpin the pathophysiology of autistic spectrum disorders, and the authors confirm earlier reports that limbic areas are metabolically aberrant in these disorders

U2 - 10.1176/appi.ajp.163.12.2189

DO - 10.1176/appi.ajp.163.12.2189

M3 - Article

SN - 1535-7228

VL - 163

SP - 2189

EP - 2192

JO - The American Journal of Psychiatry

JF - The American Journal of Psychiatry

IS - 12

ER -