MK4MDD

Genetic/Epigenetic Locus Search Cross Data Search

Study Report

Reference

Citation	Olvera, 2010 PubMed
Full Info	Olvera, R.L., Caetano, S.C., Stanley, J.A., Chen, H.H., Nicoletti, M., Hatch, J.P., Fonseca, M., Pliszka, S.R. and Soares, J.C. (2010) Reduced medial prefrontal N-acetyl-aspartate levels in pediatric major depressive disorder: a multi-voxel in vivo(1)H spectroscopy study. Psychiatry Res, 184, 71-76.

Study

Hypothesis or Background	There is increasing evidence of a reciprocal fronto-limbic network in the pathogenesis of mood disorders. Prior in vivo proton ((1)H) spectroscopy studies provide evidence of abnormal neurochemical levels in the cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of adult subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD). We examined whether similar abnormalities occur in children and adolescents with MDD.
Sample Information	children and adolescents aged 8-17 years with MDD (n=16) compared with healthy control subjects (n=38)
Method Detail	We collected two-dimensional multi-voxel in vivo (1)H spectroscopy data at 1.5 Tesla to quantify levels of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), glycerolphosphocholine plus phosphocholine (GPC+PC), and phosphocreatine plus creatine (PCr+Cr) in the DLPFC, medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), and anterior cingulate (AC) of children and adolescents aged 8-17 years with MDD (n=16) compared with healthy control subjects (n=38). Analysis of covariance with age and gender as covariates was performed.
Method Keywords	spectrophotometric analysis
Result	MDD subjects showed significantly lower levels of NAA in the right MPFC and right AC than controls. MDD subjects also had significantly lower levels of GPC+PC in the right AC than control subjects. There were no significant differences in other metabolites in the studied regions.
Conclusions	Pediatric patients with MDD exhibit neurochemical alterations in prefrontal cortex regions that are important in the monitoring and regulation of emotional states.

Relationships reported by Olvera, 2010

Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper)	Component A Type	Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper)	Component B Type	Statistical Result	Relationship Description	Result Category (Positive/Negative))
right anterior cingulate cortex (right anterior cingulate(AC))	brain morphology and function	N-acetylaspartate (N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA))	molecule		MDD subjects showed significantly lower levels of NAA in the right MPFC and right AC than controls.	Positive
right medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) (right medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC))	brain morphology and function	N-acetylaspartate (N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA))	molecule		MDD subjects showed significantly lower levels of NAA in the right MPFC and right AC than controls.	Positive
MDD	syndrome	right medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) (right medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC))	brain morphology and function		MDD subjects showed significantly lower levels of NAA in the right MPFC and right AC than controls.	Positive
right anterior cingulate cortex (right anterior cingulate(AC))	brain morphology and function	Glycerophospholipids (glycerophosphocholine)	molecule		MDD subjects also had significantly lower levels of GPC+PC in the right AC than control subjects.	Positive
MDD	syndrome	right anterior cingulate cortex (right anterior cingulate(AC))	brain morphology and function		MDD subjects showed significantly lower levels of NAA in the right AC than controls. MDD subjects also had significantly lower levels of GPC+PC in the right AC than control subjects.	Positive
MDD	syndrome	Phosphorylcholine (phosphocholine)	molecule		MDD subjects also had significantly lower levels of GPC+PC in the right AC than control subjects.	Positive
MDD	syndrome	N-acetylaspartate (N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA))	molecule		MDD subjects showed significantly lower levels of NAA in the right MPFC and right AC than controls.	Positive
MDD	syndrome	Glycerophospholipids (glycerophosphocholine)	molecule		MDD subjects also had significantly lower levels of GPC+PC in the right AC than control subjects.	Positive
right anterior cingulate cortex (right anterior cingulate(AC))	brain morphology and function	Phosphorylcholine (phosphocholine)	molecule		MDD subjects also had significantly lower levels of GPC+PC in the right AC than control subjects.	Positive