In vivo assessment of neurotransmitters and modulators with magnetic resonance spectroscopy: application to schizophrenia

S Andrea Wijtenburg; Shaolin Yang; Bernard A Fischer; Laura M Rowland

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.01.007

In vivo assessment of neurotransmitters and modulators with magnetic resonance spectroscopy: application to schizophrenia

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015 Apr:51:276-95. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.01.007. Epub 2015 Jan 19.

Authors

S Andrea Wijtenburg¹, Shaolin Yang², Bernard A Fischer³, Laura M Rowland⁴

Affiliations

¹ Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, PO Box 21247, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA. Electronic address: awijtenburg@mprc.umaryland.edu.
² Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W. Taylor Street, Suite 512, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W. Taylor Street, Suite 512, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W. Taylor Street, Suite 512, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
³ Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, PO Box 21247, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA; Veterans Affairs Capital Network (VISN 5) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs, 10 N. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
⁴ Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, PO Box 21247, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA.

Abstract

In vivo measurement of neurotransmitters and modulators is now feasible with advanced proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) techniques. This review provides a basic tutorial of MRS, describes the methods available to measure brain glutamate, glutamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, glutathione, N-acetylaspartylglutamate, glycine, and serine at magnetic field strengths of 3T or higher, and summarizes the neurochemical findings in schizophrenia. Overall, (1)H MRS holds great promise for producing biomarkers that can serve as treatment targets, prediction of disease onset, or illness exacerbation in schizophrenia and other brain diseases.

Keywords: GABA; Glutamate; Glutathione; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Schizophrenia.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain / metabolism*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
Schizophrenia / metabolism*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding