Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Hasler, 2005 PubMed |
| Full Info | Hasler, G., Neumeister, A., van der Veen, J.W., Tumonis, T., Bain, E.E., Shen, J., Drevets, W.C. and Charney, D.S. (2005) Normal prefrontal gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in remitted depressed subjects determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Biol Psychiatry, 58, 969-973.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
There is growing evidence that the brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system is involved in depression. Lowered plasma GABA levels were identified as a traitlike abnormality found in patients with remitted unipolar depression and in healthy first-degree relatives of patients with unipolar depression. Major depressive disorder has been associated with neuroimaging and neuropathological abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex by various types of evidence. As a result, the current study investigates whether GABA levels in the prefrontal cortex differ between unmedicated subjects with remitted major depressive disorder (rMDD) and healthy control subjects.
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| Sample Information | Sixteen rMDD subjects and 15 healthy control subjects |
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| Method Detail | Subjects underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We used a 3 Tesla GE whole body scanner with a homogeneous resonator coil providing a homogenous radiofrequency field and capability of obtaining measurement from the prefrontal cortex. Gamma-aminobutyric acid levels were measured in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and dorsolateral/anterior medial prefrontal cortex. |
| Method Keywords | spectrophotometric analysis |
| Result | There was no difference in GABA concentrations between rMDD subjects and healthy control subjects in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and dorsolateral/anterior medial prefrontal cortex. Secondary analyses provided preliminary evidence for a negative relationship between the glutamate/glutamine (Glx)/GABA ratio and age of onset of major depression in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. |
| Conclusions | This result suggests that GABA levels in the prefrontal cortex, if found to be reduced in symptomatic depression, do not represent a persistent characteristic of major depression. Further research is needed to determine brain GABA levels in different brain regions, in different stages of depressive illness, and in different depressive subtypes. |
Relationships reported by
Hasler, 2005
| 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)) |
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
ventromedial prefrontal cortex (ventromedial prefrontal cortex) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Secondary analyses provided preliminary evidence for a negative relationship between the glutamate/glutamine (Glx)/GABA ratio and age of onset of major depression in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)) |
molecule |
|
Secondary analyses provided preliminary evidence for a negative relationship between the glutamate/glutamine (Glx)/GABA ratio and age of onset of major depression in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Glutamine (glutamine) |
molecule |
|
Secondary analyses provided preliminary evidence for a negative relationship between the glutamate/glutamine (Glx)/GABA ratio and age of onset of major depression in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Glutamates (glutamate) |
molecule |
|
Secondary analyses provided preliminary evidence for a negative relationship between the glutamate/glutamine (Glx)/GABA ratio and age of onset of major depression in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. |
Positive
|
