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Agarwal K, Manza P, Chapman M, Nawal N, Biesecker E, McPherson K, Dennis E, Johnson A, Volkow ND, Joseph PV. Inflammatory Markers in Substance Use and Mood Disorders: A Neuroimaging Perspective. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:863734. [PMID: 35558424 PMCID: PMC9086785 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.863734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic exposure to addictive drugs in substance use disorders and stressors in mood disorders render the brain more vulnerable to inflammation. Inflammation in the brain, or neuroinflammation, is characterized by gliosis, microglial activation, and sustained release of cytokines, chemokines, and pro-inflammatory factors compromising the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. There is increased curiosity in understanding how substance misuse and/or repeated stress exposure affect inflammation and contribute to abnormal neuronal activity, altered neuroplasticity, and impaired cognitive control, which eventually promote compulsive drug-use behaviors and worsen mood disorders. This review will emphasize human imaging studies to explore the link between brain function and peripheral markers of inflammation in substance use disorders and mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushbu Agarwal
- Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit, Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism, Division of Intramural Research, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Peter Manza
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Marquis Chapman
- Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit, Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Nafisa Nawal
- Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit, Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Erin Biesecker
- Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit, Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Katherine McPherson
- Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit, Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Evan Dennis
- Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit, Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Allison Johnson
- Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit, Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Nora D Volkow
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Paule V Joseph
- Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism Unit, Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism, Division of Intramural Research, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Bakhshinezhad H, Darharaj M, Feyzi YF, Babaei S, Ahadi R, Jamei B, Pourhamzeh M, Daneshi A, Arezoomandan R. The Relationship Between Brain Metabolites Alterations and Neuropsychological Deficits in Patients with Methamphetamine Use Disorder: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2021; 37:160-172. [PMID: 33993207 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acab033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic use of methamphetamine induces neuropsychological deficits and neurochemical changes in frontostriatal regions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between brain metabolites alterations in frontostriatal regions and neuropsychological deficits in patients with methamphetamine use disorder. METHOD A total of 30 methamphetamine users and 20 control participants were selected and a battery of standardized executive function, attention, and memory tasks, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Test, and Wechsler Memory Scale, was administered to them. Proton-Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) of N-Acetylaspartate/Creatine (NAA/Cr), Choline/Creatine (Cho/Cr), and glutamate + glutamine/creatine (Glx/Cr) in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and basal ganglia (BG) were also undertaken. RESULTS Current findings indicated that there were significant differences between two groups in metabolite ratios including NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, and Glx/Cr in three areas, except for Glx/Cr in BG. Moreover, compared to healthy controls, methamphetamine users showed poorer performance in all neuropsychological tests. Finally, a significant relationship was found between regional metabolites alterations, particularly in the ACC, and neuropsychological deficits in methamphetamine users. CONCLUSIONS In addition to neurochemical changes and neuropsychological deficits in patients with methamphetamine use disorder, current results highlighted the relationship between these changes in DLPFC, ACC, and BG with cognitive deficits in methamphetamine users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamideh Bakhshinezhad
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Darharaj
- Student Research Committee, Addiction Department, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasha Fayaz Feyzi
- Student Research Committee, Addiction Department, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shirzad Babaei
- Student Research Committee, Psychology Department, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ahadi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnammaddin Jamei
- Neuroscience Research Center (NRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Pourhamzeh
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolhadi Daneshi
- Haft-e-Tir Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Arezoomandan
- Addiction Department, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Su H, Chen T, Zhong N, Jiang H, Du J, Xiao K, Xu D, Wang Z, Zhao M. γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamate/glutamine alterations of the left prefrontal cortex in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder: a combined transcranial magnetic stimulation-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:347. [PMID: 32355791 PMCID: PMC7186735 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2020.02.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems are critical in the pathophysiology of addiction and represent potential targets for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). This study aims to investigate changes in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, the combined resonance of glutamate and glutamine (Glx) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and cognitive function of patients with methamphetamine dependence following rTMS intervention, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS). Methods Fifty methamphetamine-dependent patients were randomized to a 4-week course of active or sham rTMS, with 1H MRS measurement of DLPFC GABA and Glx levels relative to n-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) and craving and cognitive function measured at baseline and post-intervention. Results We observed significant reductions of GABA/NAA concentration in the active group and Glx/NAA concentration in the group receiving sham rTMS. There was a significant association between changes in GABA concentration and problem solving/error monitoring. Conclusions The effect of rTMS on cognitive function in individuals with methamphetamine dependence may be related to changes in GABA levels in the prefrontal cortex, and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Su
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Tianzhen Chen
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Na Zhong
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Haifeng Jiang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Jiang Du
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Ke Xiao
- Shanghai Drug Rehabilitation Administration Bureau, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Ding Xu
- Shanghai Drug Rehabilitation Administration Bureau, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, State Key laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai 201108, China.,Institute of Psychological and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
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4
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Tang J, O’Neill J, Alger JR, Shen Z, Johnson MC, London ED. N-Acetyl and Glutamatergic Neurometabolites in Perisylvian Brain Regions of Methamphetamine Users. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 22:1-9. [PMID: 29788422 PMCID: PMC6313110 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyy042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Methamphetamine induces neuronal N-acetyl-aspartate synthesis in preclinical studies. In a preliminary human proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging investigation, we also observed that N-acetyl-aspartate+N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate in right inferior frontal cortex correlated with years of heavy methamphetamine abuse. In the same brain region, glutamate+glutamine is lower in methamphetamine users than in controls and is negatively correlated with depression. N-acetyl and glutamatergic neurochemistries therefore merit further investigation in methamphetamine abuse and the associated mood symptoms. Methods Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging was used to measure N-acetyl-aspartate+N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate and glutamate+glutamine in bilateral inferior frontal cortex and insula, a neighboring perisylvian region affected by methamphetamine, of 45 abstinent methamphetamine-dependent and 45 healthy control participants. Regional neurometabolite levels were tested for group differences and associations with duration of heavy methamphetamine use, depressive symptoms, and state anxiety. Results In right inferior frontal cortex, N-acetyl-aspartate+N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate correlated with years of heavy methamphetamine use (r = +0.45); glutamate+glutamine was lower in methamphetamine users than in controls (9.3%) and correlated negatively with depressive symptoms (r = -0.44). In left insula, N-acetyl-aspartate+N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate was 9.1% higher in methamphetamine users than controls. In right insula, glutamate+glutamine was 12.3% lower in methamphetamine users than controls and correlated negatively with depressive symptoms (r = -0.51) and state anxiety (r = -0.47). Conclusions The inferior frontal cortex and insula show methamphetamine-related abnormalities, consistent with prior observations of increased cortical N-acetyl-aspartate in methamphetamine-exposed animal models and associations between cortical glutamate and mood in human methamphetamine users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Tang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroimaging, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Joseph O’Neill
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Zhiwei Shen
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Maritza C Johnson
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroimaging, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Edythe D London
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroimaging, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California
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5
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Wu Q, Qi C, Long J, Liao Y, Wang X, Xie A, Liu J, Hao W, Tang Y, Yang B, Liu T, Tang J. Metabolites Alterations in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex of Methamphetamine Users in Abstinence: A 1H MRS Study. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:478. [PMID: 30420814 PMCID: PMC6215956 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) contains various neurotransmitter systems and plays an important role in drug use. Broad body of literature on how methamphetamine (MA) affects the structure and metabolism in the animal's mPFC is emerging, while the effects on metabolites of mPFC among human is still unclear. In this study, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) was used to measure metabolites of mPFC in methamphetamine dependent subjects. Methods: Sixty-one subjects with a history of MA dependence (fulfiled the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria) and 65 drug-naïve control subjects (age19-45) completed 1H MRS scans using 3.0T Siemens MRI scanner. Single voxel spectra were acquired from the mPFC bilaterally using a point resolved spectroscopy sequence (PRESS). The 1H MRS data were automatically fit with linear combination model for quantification of metabolite levels of n-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), myo-inositol (mI), glycerophosphocholine plus phosphocholine(GPC+PC), phosphocreatine plus creatine (PCr+Cr), and glutamate (Glu). Metabolite levels were reported as ratios to PCr+Cr. Results: The MA group showed a significant reduction in NAA/PCr+Cr ratio and elevation in Glu/PCr+Cr ratio and mI/PCr+Cr ratio, compared with healthy control. No significant correlation was found between metabolite ratios and MA use variables. Conclusions: MA use is associated with a significant increased Glu/PCr+Cr ratio, mI/PCr+Cr ratio and reduced NAA/PCr+Cr ratio in the mPFC of MA dependence subjects. These findings suggest that Glu may play a key role in MA induced neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxia Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chinese National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Chang Qi
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chinese National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
| | - Jiang Long
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chinese National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
| | - Yanhui Liao
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chinese National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
| | - Xuyi Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chinese National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
| | - An Xie
- Department of Radiology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Jianbin Liu
- Department of Radiology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Hao
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chinese National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
| | - Yiyuan Tang
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Baozhu Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Tieqiao Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chinese National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
| | - Jinsong Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Chinese National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China
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Kesby JP, Chang A, Markou A, Semenova S. Modeling human methamphetamine use patterns in mice: chronic and binge methamphetamine exposure, reward function and neurochemistry. Addict Biol 2018; 23:206-218. [PMID: 28224681 PMCID: PMC5565728 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Different methamphetamine use patterns in human subjects may contribute to inconsistent findings regarding the effects of methamphetamine abuse on brain and behavior. The present study investigated whether human-derived chronic and binge methamphetamine use patterns have differential effects on reward and neurochemistry in mice. Brain reward function in mice was evaluated during acute/prolonged withdrawal, and in response to methamphetamine challenge using the intracranial self-stimulation procedure. Brain dopaminergic, serotonergic and glutamatergic neurochemistry was determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. Chronic and binge regimens induced withdrawal-related decreases in reward function that were more severe during the binge regimen during cycles 1-2. Despite large differences in methamphetamine dose, both regimens induced similar reward deficits during cycles 3-4. Neither methamphetamine regimen led to persistent alterations in the sensitivity to the reward-enhancing effects of acute methamphetamine challenge. The binge regimen severely depleted striatal dopamine levels and increased brain glutamine levels. The chronic regimen had milder effects on striatal dopamine levels and altered cortical dopamine and serotonin levels. This work highlights that the magnitude of acute/prolonged withdrawal may not reflect amount or frequency of methamphetamine intake. In contrast, the array of underlying neurochemical alterations was methamphetamine regimen dependent. Thus, stratifying methamphetamine-dependent individuals based on use pattern may help to cater therapeutic interventions more appropriately by targeting use pattern-specific neurotransmitter systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Kesby
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld, Australia
| | - Ariel Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Athina Markou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Svetlana Semenova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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7
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Yang W, Yang R, Luo J, He L, Liu J, Zhang J. Increased Absolute Glutamate Concentrations and Glutamate-to-Creatine Ratios in Patients With Methamphetamine Use Disorders. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:368. [PMID: 30233420 PMCID: PMC6128240 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Previous studies have indicated that changes in the concentration of glutamate and related metabolites may mediate the progression of addiction in patients with methamphetamine (MA) use disorders. In the present study, we utilized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to investigate absolute glutamate concentrations and metabolite ratios in patients with MA addiction. We further analyzed the association between glutamate concentration and various clinical indicators. Methods: The present study included 31 unmedicated patients with clinically diagnosed MA dependence (mean age: 30.5 ± 8.0 years) and 32 age-matched healthy controls (mean age: 32.9 ± 8.2 years). Patients were evaluated using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). We also collected general information regarding the duration and dosage of drug use. Point-resolved spectroscopy was used to quantify the absolute concentrations of metabolites (glutamate, choline, N-acetylaspartate, glutamine, and creatine), as well as the ratio of metabolites to total creatine, using LCModel software. We then compared differences in glutamate levels and psychometric scores between the two groups. Results: Glutamate-to-creatine ratios in the brainstem were significantly higher in the MA group than in the control group (t = 2.764, p = 0.008). Glutamate concentrations in the brainstem were also significantly higher in the MA group than in the control group (t = 2.390, p = 0.020). However, no significant differences in the concentrations or ratios of other metabolites were observed between the two groups (all p > 0.05). Glutamate concentration was positively correlated with the duration of drug use (r = 0.401, p = 0.035) and the total dose of regular addiction (duration of addiction × regular addiction dose; r = 0.207, p = .040), but not with BIS-11 scores. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that glutamate levels in the brainstem are significantly elevated in patients with MA use disorders, and that these levels are significantly associated with the duration and dose of drug use.Such findings suggest that glutamate concentration can be used as an objective biological marker for evaluating/monitoring disease status and treatment efficacy in patients with MA dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhan Yang
- Department of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ru Yang
- Department of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Hunan Judicial Police Vocational College, Changsha, China
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8
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Moeller SJ, London ED, Northoff G. Neuroimaging markers of glutamatergic and GABAergic systems in drug addiction: Relationships to resting-state functional connectivity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 61:35-52. [PMID: 26657968 PMCID: PMC4731270 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Drug addiction is characterized by widespread abnormalities in brain function and neurochemistry, including drug-associated effects on concentrations of the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. In healthy individuals, these neurotransmitters drive the resting state, a default condition of brain function also disrupted in addiction. Here, our primary goal was to review in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography studies that examined markers of glutamate and GABA abnormalities in human drug addiction. Addicted individuals tended to show decreases in these markers compared with healthy controls, but findings also varied by individual characteristics (e.g., abstinence length). Interestingly, select corticolimbic brain regions showing glutamatergic and/or GABAergic abnormalities have been similarly implicated in resting-state functional connectivity deficits in drug addiction. Thus, our secondary goals were to provide a brief review of this resting-state literature, and an initial rationale for the hypothesis that abnormalities in glutamatergic and/or GABAergic neurotransmission may underlie resting-state functional deficits in drug addiction. In doing so, we suggest future research directions and possible treatment implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott J Moeller
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - Edythe D London
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Georg Northoff
- Brain Imaging and Neuroethics Research Unit, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Canada.
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9
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Investigating the microstructural and neurochemical environment within the basal ganglia of current methamphetamine abusers. Drug Alcohol Depend 2015; 149:122-7. [PMID: 25700612 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methamphetamine is a highly addictive psychostimulant and the medical, social, and economic consequences associated with its use have become a major international problem. Current evidence has shown methamphetamine to be particularly neurotoxic to dopamine neurons and striatal structures within the basal ganglia. A previous study from our laboratory demonstrated larger putamen volumes in actively using methamphetamine-dependent participants. The purpose of this current study was to determine whether striatal structures in the same sample of participants also exhibit pathology on the microstructural and molecular level. METHODS Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) were carried out in current methamphetamine users (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 22) to investigate diffusion indices and neurometabolite levels in the basal ganglia. RESULTS Contrary to findings from previous DTI and MRS studies, no significant differences in diffusion indices or metabolite levels were observed in the basal ganglia regions of current methamphetamine users. CONCLUSIONS These findings differ from those reported in abstinent users and the absence of diffusion and neurochemical abnormalities may suggest that striatal enlargement in current methamphetamine use may be due to mechanisms other than edema and glial proliferation.
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10
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Yang S, Belcher AM, Chefer S, Vaupel DB, Schindler CW, Stein EA, Yang Y. Withdrawal from long-term methamphetamine self-administration 'normalizes' neurometabolites in rhesus monkeys: a (1) H MR spectroscopy study. Addict Biol 2015; 20:69-79. [PMID: 23910722 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
(1) H magnetic resonance spectroscopy has demonstrated alterations in several neurometabolites in methamphetamine (METH)-dependent individuals in brain regions implicated in addiction. Yet, it is unclear whether these neurochemicals return to homeostatic levels after an individual abstains from drug use, a difficult question to address due to high recidivism and poor study retention in human subjects. We thus utilized a non-human primate model of addiction to explore the effects of long-term drug exposure and withdrawal on brain neurochemistry. Ten rhesus macaque monkeys on an active METH self-administration protocol (average use 4.6 ± 0.8 years, average daily intake between 0.4 and 1.2 mg/kg) and 10 age- and sex-matched drug-naive controls (CONT) served as subjects. Concentrations of several neurochemicals were evaluated at several timepoints following withdrawal from drug availability (10 monkeys at 1 week and 1 and 3 months, and 6 monkeys at 6 and 12 months; CONT examined at one timepoint). At 1 week following METH withdrawal, we found increases in myo-inositol in anterior cingulate cortex in the METH group relative to CONT. These alterations showed a linear pattern of decreased levels ('normalization') by 1 year of abstinence. We also found decreases in glutamine and Glx (composed mainly of glutamate and glutamine) in the caudate-putamen of the same animals at early withdrawal that showed a similar linear pattern of increasing concentration by 1 year. These results demonstrate that despite protracted, long-term use, neurochemical changes seen following long-term drug administration do not persist following prolonged abstinence, suggesting therapeutic effects of long-term withdrawal from drug use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaolin Yang
- Neuroimaging Research Branch; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; Baltimore MD USA
- Departments of Psychiatry, Radiology, and Bioengineering; University of Illinois at Chicago; Chicago IL USA
| | - Annabelle M. Belcher
- Neuroimaging Research Branch; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; Baltimore MD USA
| | - Svetlana Chefer
- Neuroimaging Research Branch; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; Baltimore MD USA
- Division of Clinical Research; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; National Institutes of Health; Frederick MD USA
| | - D. Bruce Vaupel
- Neuroimaging Research Branch; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; Baltimore MD USA
| | - Charles W. Schindler
- Preclinical Pharmacology Section; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; Baltimore MD USA
| | - Elliot A. Stein
- Neuroimaging Research Branch; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; Baltimore MD USA
| | - Yihong Yang
- Neuroimaging Research Branch; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; Baltimore MD USA
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London ED, Kohno M, Morales AM, Ballard ME. Chronic methamphetamine abuse and corticostriatal deficits revealed by neuroimaging. Brain Res 2014; 1628:174-85. [PMID: 25451127 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite aggressive efforts to contain it, methamphetamine use disorder continues to be major public health problem; and with generic behavioral therapies still the mainstay of treatment for methamphetamine abuse, rates of attrition and relapse remain high. This review summarizes the findings of structural, molecular, and functional neuroimaging studies of methamphetamine abusers, focusing on cortical and striatal abnormalities and their potential contributions to cognitive and behavioral phenotypes that can serve to promote compulsive drug use. These studies indicate that individuals with a history of chronic methamphetamine abuse often display several signs of corticostriatal dysfunction, including abnormal gray- and white-matter integrity, monoamine neurotransmitter system deficiencies, neuroinflammation, poor neuronal integrity, and aberrant patterns of brain connectivity and function, both when engaged in cognitive tasks and at rest. More importantly, many of these neural abnormalities were found to be linked with certain addiction-related phenotypes that may influence treatment response (e.g., poor self-control, cognitive inflexibility, maladaptive decision-making), raising the possibility that they may represent novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edythe D London
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024; Departments of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024; Departments of Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024.
| | - Milky Kohno
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024
| | - Angelica M Morales
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024
| | - Michael E Ballard
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024
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12
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O'Neill J, Tobias MC, Hudkins M, London ED. Glutamatergic neurometabolites during early abstinence from chronic methamphetamine abuse. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2014; 18:pyu059. [PMID: 25522400 PMCID: PMC4360253 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyu059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The acute phase of abstinence from methamphetamine abuse is critical for rehabilitation success. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy has detected below-normal levels of glutamate+glutamine in anterior middle cingulate of chronic methamphetamine abusers during early abstinence, attributed to abstinence-induced downregulation of the glutamatergic systems in the brain. This study further explored this phenomenon. METHODS We measured glutamate+glutamine in additional cortical regions (midline posterior cingulate, midline precuneus, and bilateral inferior frontal cortex) putatively affected by methamphetamine. We examined the relationship between glutamate+glutamine in each region with duration of methamphetamine abuse as well as the depressive symptoms of early abstinence. Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging was acquired at 1.5 T from a methamphetamine group of 44 adults who had chronically abused methamphetamine and a control group of 23 age-, sex-, and tobacco smoking-matched healthy volunteers. Participants in the methamphetamine group were studied as inpatients during the first week of abstinence from the drug and were not receiving treatment. RESULTS In the methamphetamine group, small but significant (5-15%, P<.05) decrements (vs control) in glutamate+glutamine were observed in posterior cingulate, precuneus, and right inferior frontal cortex; glutamate+glutamine in posterior cingulate was negatively correlated (P<.05) with years of methamphetamine abuse. The Beck Depression Inventory score was negatively correlated (P<.005) with glutamate+glutamine in right inferior frontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the idea that glutamatergic metabolism is downregulated in early abstinence in multiple cortical regions. The extent of downregulation may vary with length of abuse and may be associated with severity of depressive symptoms emergent in early recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph O'Neill
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Drs O'Neill, Tobias, and Hudkins), and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences (Drs O'Neill and London), Semel Institute for Neuroscience, and Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (Dr London), and Brain Research Institute (Dr London), University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Marc C Tobias
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Drs O'Neill, Tobias, and Hudkins), and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences (Drs O'Neill and London), Semel Institute for Neuroscience, and Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (Dr London), and Brain Research Institute (Dr London), University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Matthew Hudkins
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Drs O'Neill, Tobias, and Hudkins), and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences (Drs O'Neill and London), Semel Institute for Neuroscience, and Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (Dr London), and Brain Research Institute (Dr London), University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Edythe D London
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Drs O'Neill, Tobias, and Hudkins), and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences (Drs O'Neill and London), Semel Institute for Neuroscience, and Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology (Dr London), and Brain Research Institute (Dr London), University of California, Los Angeles, CA
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Chesworth R, Brown RM, Kim JH, Lawrence AJ. The metabotropic glutamate 5 receptor modulates extinction and reinstatement of methamphetamine-seeking in mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68371. [PMID: 23861896 PMCID: PMC3701637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive psychostimulant with no therapeutics registered to assist addicts in discontinuing use. Glutamatergic dysfunction has been implicated in the development and maintenance of addiction. We sought to assess the involvement of the metabotropic glutamate 5 receptor (mGlu5) in behaviours relevant to METH addiction because this receptor has been implicated in the actions of other drugs of abuse, including alcohol, cocaine and opiates. mGlu5 knockout (KO) mice were tested in intravenous self-administration, conditioned place preference and locomotor sensitization. Self-administration of sucrose was used to assess the response of KO mice to a natural reward. Acquisition and maintenance of self-administration, as well as the motivation to self-administer METH was intact in mGlu5 KO mice. Importantly, mGlu5 KO mice required more extinction sessions to extinguish the operant response for METH, and exhibited an enhanced propensity to reinstate operant responding following exposure to drug-associated cues. This phenotype was not present when KO mice were tested in an equivalent paradigm assessing operant responding for sucrose. Development of conditioned place preference and locomotor sensitization were intact in KO mice; however, conditioned hyperactivity to the context previously paired with drug was elevated in KO mice. These data demonstrate a role for mGlu5 in the extinction and reinstatement of METH-seeking, and suggests a role for mGlu5 in regulating contextual salience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Chesworth
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robyn M. Brown
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jee Hyun Kim
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew J. Lawrence
- Behavioural Neuroscience Division, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Sung YH, Yurgelun-Todd DA, Shi XF, Kondo DG, Lundberg KJ, McGlade EC, Hellem TL, Huber RS, Fiedler KK, Harrell RE, Nickerson BR, Kim SE, Jeong EK, Renshaw PF. Decreased frontal lobe phosphocreatine levels in methamphetamine users. Drug Alcohol Depend 2013; 129:102-9. [PMID: 23084413 PMCID: PMC3572261 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2012] [Revised: 08/14/2012] [Accepted: 09/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondria-related mechanisms have been suggested to mediate methamphetamine (METH) toxicity. However, changes in brain energetics associated with high-energy phosphate metabolism have not been investigated in METH users. Phosphorus-31 ((31)P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to evaluate changes in mitochondrial high energy phosphates, including phosphocreatine (PCr) and β-nucleoside triphosphate (β-NTP, primarily ATP in brain) levels. We hypothesized that METH users would have decreased high-energy PCr levels in the frontal gray matter. METHODS Study participants consisted of 51 METH (age=32.8±6.7) and 23 healthy comparison (age=31.1±7.5) subjects. High-energy phosphate metabolite levels were compared between the groups and potential gender differences were explored. RESULTS METH users had lower ratios of PCr to total pool of exchangeable phosphate (PCr/TPP) in the frontal lobe as compared to the healthy subjects (p=.001). The lower PCr levels in METH subjects were significantly associated with lifetime amount of METH use (p=.003). A sub-analysis for gender differences revealed that female METH users, who had lower daily amounts (1.1±1.0g) of METH use than males (1.4±1.7g), had significantly lower PCr/TPP ratios than male METH users, controlling for the amount of METH use (p=.02). CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that METH compromises frontal lobe high-energy phosphate metabolism in a dose-responsive manner. Our findings also suggest that the abnormality in frontal lobe high-energy phosphate metabolism might be more prominent in female than in male METH users. This is significant as decreased PCr levels have been associated with depressive symptoms, and poor responses to antidepressant treatment have been reported in those with decreased PCr levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Hoon Sung
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
| | - Deborah A. Yurgelun-Todd
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA,The Brain Institute, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, USA,VISN 19 MIRECC, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Xian-Feng Shi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Douglas G. Kondo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA,The Brain Institute, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, USA,VISN 19 MIRECC, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kelly J. Lundberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Erin C. McGlade
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA,The Brain Institute, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, USA,VISN 19 MIRECC, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Tracy L. Hellem
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Rebekah S. Huber
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Renee E. Harrell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Seong-Eun Kim
- Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Eun-Kee Jeong
- Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Perry F. Renshaw
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA,The Brain Institute, University of Utah, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, USA,VISN 19 MIRECC, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Sailasuta N, Harris K, Tran T, Ross B. Minimally invasive biomarker confirms glial activation present in Alzheimer's disease: a preliminary study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2011; 7:495-9. [PMID: 21931491 PMCID: PMC3173032 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s23721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [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] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We applied (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), a nonradioactive, noninvasive brain imaging technique, to quantify the oxidation of [1-(13)C] acetate in a conventional clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner in five consecutive elderly subjects at various clinical stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. [1-(13)C] acetate entered the brain and was metabolized to [5-(13)C] glutamate and glutamine, as well as [1-(13)C] glutamate and glutamine, and the final glial oxidation product, (13)C bicarbonate, at a linear rate. Calculation of the initial slope was similar in a single subject, examined twice, 1 month apart (test-re-test 8%). Mean rate of cerebral bicarbonate production in this elderly group was 0.040 ± 0.01 (n = 5). Assuming that the rate of conversion of acetate to bicarbonate is a reflection of glial metabolic rate and that glial metabolic rate is a surrogate marker for 'neuroinflammation', our preliminary results suggest that [1-(13)C] MRS may provide biomarkers for diseases, believed to involve microglia and other cells of the astrocyte series. Among these is AD, for which novel drugs which ameliorate the damaging effects of neuroinflammation before symptoms of dementia appear, are in advanced development. The value of (13)C MRS as an early, noninvasive biomarker may lie in the conduct of cost-effective clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Napapon Sailasuta
- Clinical MR Unit, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, CA, USA
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Hammerness P, Biederman J, Petty C, Henin A, Moore CM. Brain biochemical effects of methylphenidate treatment using proton magnetic spectroscopy in youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a controlled pilot study. CNS Neurosci Ther 2010; 18:34-40. [PMID: 21143432 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2010.00226.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study conducted spectroscopic analyses using proton (1H) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (at 4 Tesla) in a sample of adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), before and after treatment with extended release methylphenidate (OROS MPH), as compared to a sample of healthy comparators. AIMS The main aim of this study is to use 1H MRS to measure differences in brain biochemistry between adolescents with and without ADHD, and to assess changes in cerebral biochemistry, before and after stimulant treatment in ADHD youth. RESULTS Subjects with ADHD were medically healthy adolescents treated in an open label fashion with OROS MPH (mean dose: 54 mg/day; 0.90 mg/kg/day). Subjects with ADHD were scanned before and after OROS MPH treatment. Healthy comparators were scanned once. Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy studies were performed on a 4.0 T Varian Unity/Inova MR scanner; proton spectra were acquired from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC). Data were analyzed using MANOVA and repeated measurement ANOVA. Higher metabolite ratios (Glutamate/myo-inositol, Glutamine/myo-inositol, Glutamate + Glutamine/myo-inositol) were observed in the ACC in untreated ADHD subjects as compared to controls, and to treated ADHD youth; these group differences did not reach the a priori threshold for statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary findings suggest the presence of glutamatergic abnormalities in adolescents with ADHD, which may normalize with MPH treatment. Larger sample, controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Hammerness
- Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, 02138, USA.
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