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McManus E, Muhlert N, Duncan NW. InSpectro-Gadget: A Tool for Estimating Neurotransmitter and Neuromodulator Receptor Distributions for MRS Voxels. Neuroinformatics 2024; 22:135-145. [PMID: 38386228 DOI: 10.1007/s12021-024-09654-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is widely used to estimate concentrations of glutamate and γ -aminobutyric acid (GABA) in specific regions of the living human brain. As cytoarchitectural properties differ across the brain, interpreting these measurements can be assisted by having knowledge of such properties for the MRS region(s) studied. In particular, some knowledge of likely local neurotransmitter receptor patterns can potentially give insights into the mechanistic environment GABA- and glutamatergic neurons are functioning in. This may be of particular utility when comparing two or more regions, given that the receptor populations may differ substantially across them. At the same time, when studying MRS data from multiple participants or timepoints, the homogeneity of the sample becomes relevant, as measurements taken from areas with different cytoarchitecture may be difficult to compare. To provide insights into the likely cytoarchitectural environment of user-defined regions-of-interest, we produced an easy to use tool - InSpectro-Gadget - that interfaces with receptor mRNA expression information from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. This Python tool allows users to input masks and automatically obtain a graphical overview of the receptor population likely to be found within. This includes comparison between multiple masks or participants where relevant. The receptors and receptor subunit genes featured include GABA- and glutamatergic classes, along with a wide range of neuromodulators. The functionality of the tool is explained here and its use is demonstrated through a set of example analyses. The tool is available at https://github.com/lizmcmanus/Inspectro-Gadget .
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nils Muhlert
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Niall W Duncan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Galineau L, Arlicot N, Dupont AC, Briend F, Houy-Durand E, Tauber C, Gomot M, Gissot V, Barantin L, Lefevre A, Vercouillie J, Roussel C, Roux S, Nadal L, Mavel S, Laumonnier F, Belzung C, Chalon S, Emond P, Santiago-Ribeiro MJ, Bonnet-Brilhault F. Glutamatergic synapse in autism: a complex story for a complex disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:801-809. [PMID: 36434055 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01860-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose pathophysiological mechanisms are still unclear. Hypotheses suggest a role for glutamate dysfunctions in ASD development, but clinical studies investigating brain and peripheral glutamate levels showed heterogenous results leading to hypo- and hyper-glutamatergic hypotheses of ASD. Recently, studies proposed the implication of elevated mGluR5 densities in brain areas in the pathophysiology of ASD. Thus, our objective was to characterize glutamate dysfunctions in adult subjects with ASD by quantifying (1) glutamate levels in the cingulate cortex and periphery using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and metabolomics, and (2) mGluR5 brain density in this population and in a validated animal model of ASD (prenatal exposure to valproate) at developmental stages corresponding to childhood and adolescence in humans using positron emission tomography. No modifications in cingulate Glu levels were observed between individuals with ASD and controls further supporting the difficulty to evaluate modifications in excitatory transmission using spectroscopy in this population, and the complexity of its glutamate-related changes. Our imaging results showed an overall increased density in mGluR5 in adults with ASD, that was only observed mostly subcortically in adolescent male rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid, and not detected in the stage corresponding to childhood in the same animals. This suggest that clinical changes in mGluR5 density could reflect the adaptation of the glutamatergic dysfunctions occurring earlier rather than being key to the pathophysiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas Arlicot
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Unité de Radiopharmacie, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Anne-Claire Dupont
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Unité de Radiopharmacie, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France.,Service de Médecine Nucléaire, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Frederic Briend
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Excellence Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Emmanuelle Houy-Durand
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Excellence Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Clovis Tauber
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - Marie Gomot
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Excellence Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | | | | | - Antoine Lefevre
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | | | | | - Sylvie Roux
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Excellence Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Lydie Nadal
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - Sylvie Mavel
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | | | | | - Sylvie Chalon
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - Patrick Emond
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - Maria-Joao Santiago-Ribeiro
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Service de Médecine Nucléaire, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Frédérique Bonnet-Brilhault
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France. .,Excellence Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France.
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Characterizing cerebral metabolite profiles in anorexia and bulimia nervosa and their associations with habitual behavior. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:103. [PMID: 35292626 PMCID: PMC8924163 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01872-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are associated with altered brain structure and function, as well as increased habitual behavior. This neurobehavioral profile may implicate neurochemical changes in the pathogenesis of these illnesses. Altered glutamate, myo-inositol and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) concentrations are reported in restrictive AN, yet whether these extend to binge-eating disorders, or relate to habitual traits in affected individuals, remains unknown. We therefore used single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure glutamate, myo-inositol, and NAA in the right inferior lateral prefrontal cortex and the right occipital cortex of 85 women [n = 22 AN (binge-eating/purging subtype; AN-BP), n = 33 BN, n = 30 controls]. To index habitual behavior, participants performed an instrumental learning task and completed the Creature of Habit Scale. Women with AN-BP, but not BN, had reduced myo-inositol and NAA concentrations relative to controls in both regions. Although patient groups had intact instrumental learning task performance, both groups reported increased routine behaviors compared to controls, and automaticity was related to reduced prefrontal glutamate and NAA participants with AN-BP. Our findings extend previous reports of reduced myo-inositol and NAA levels in restrictive AN to AN-BP, which may reflect disrupted axonal-glial signaling. Although we found inconsistent support for increased habitual behavior in AN-BP and BN, we identified preliminary associations between prefrontal metabolites and automaticity in AN-BP. These results provide further evidence of unique neurobiological profiles across binge-eating disorders.
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Truong V, Cheng PZ, Lee HC, Lane TJ, Hsu TY, Duncan NW. Occipital gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate-glutamine alterations in major depressive disorder: An mrs study and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2021; 308:111238. [PMID: 33385764 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2020.111238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate have been suggested to play a role in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) through an imbalance between cortical inhibition and excitation. This effect has been highlighted in higher brain areas, such as the prefrontal cortex, but has also been posited in basic sensory cortices. Based on this, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to investigate potential changes to GABA+ and glutamate+glutamine (Glx) concentrations within the occipital cortex in MDD patients (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 25). No difference in occipital GABA+ or Glx concentrations, nor in the GABA+/Glx ratio, was found between groups. An analysis of an extended MDD patient and unmatched control dataset (n = 90) found no correlation between metabolite concentrations and depressive symptoms. These results were integrated with prior studies through metabolite-specific meta-analyses, revealing no difference in occipital GABA and Glx concentrations between patients and controls. An effect of publication year on GABA group differences was found, suggesting that previously reported results may have been artifacts of measurement accuracy. Taken together, our results suggest that, contrary to some prior reports, MRS measurements of occipital GABA and Glx do not differ between MDD patients and controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vuong Truong
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU-ShuangHo Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Vision and Cognition Lab, Centre for Integrative Neurosciences, Tübingen, Germany; Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Paul Z Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU-ShuangHo Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Chien Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Timothy J Lane
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU-ShuangHo Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yu Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU-ShuangHo Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Niall W Duncan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU-ShuangHo Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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