Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Walter, 2009 PubMed |
| Full Info | Walter, M., Henning, A., Grimm, S., Schulte, R.F., Beck, J., Dydak, U., Schnepf, B., Boeker, H., Boesiger, P. and Northoff, G. (2009) The relationship between aberrant neuronal activation in the pregenual anterior cingulate, altered glutamatergic metabolism, and anhedonia in major depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 66, 478-486.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by diverse metabolic and functional abnormalities that occur in, among other regions, the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), a cortical region linked to anhedonia. To contextualize metabolic, functional, and clinical parameters and thus to reveal cellular mechanisms related to anhedonia.
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| Sample Information | Nineteen unmedicated patients with MDD and 24 healthy subjects. |
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| Method Detail | The pgACC was investigated using a combined functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopic approach. Negative blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activations in the pgACC were assessed during emotional stimulation. Quantitative J-resolved magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the pgACC enabled simultaneous determination of glutamine, glutamate, N-acetylaspartate, glucose, and gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations. Subjective emotional intensity ratings as well as various clinical parameters were determined. Reduced glutamine levels and lower functional responses in pgACC in anhedonic depressed patients were expected to be the predominant effect of abnormal glutamatergic transmission. It was further tested if, among patients, the ratings of emotional intensity on visual stimulation predicted the amount of metabolic and functional alterations in terms of reduced relative metabolite concentrations and BOLD changes. |
| Method Keywords | functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); spectrophotometric analysis |
| Result | Patients with highly anhedonic MDD show decreased glutamine but normal glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations, with glutamine concentrations being dissociated from glucose concentrations. Glutamate and N-acetylaspartate concentrations in pgACC correlate with negative BOLD responses induced by emotional stimulation in MDD; whereas in healthy subjects, negative BOLD responses correlate with gamma-aminobutyric acid instead. Negative BOLD responses as well as glutamate and N-acetylaspartate concentrations correlate with emotional intensity ratings, an anhedonia surrogate, in those with MDD but not in healthy subjects. |
| Conclusions | Aberrant neuronal activation patterns of the pgACC in anhedonic depression are related to deficits of glutamatergic metabolism. |
Relationships reported by
Walter, 2009
| 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 |
pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC)) |
brain morphology and function |
|
Glutamate and N-acetylaspartate concentrations in pgACC correlate with negative BOLD responses induced by emotional stimulation in MDD |
Positive
|
|
Anhedonia (anhedonia)
|
symptoms |
Glutamates (glutamate) |
molecule |
|
Glutamate and N-acetylaspartate concentrations correlate with emotional intensity ratings, an anhedonia surrogate, in those with MDD but not in healthy subjects |
Positive
|
|
Anhedonia (anhedonia)
|
symptoms |
Glutamine (glutamine) |
molecule |
|
Patients with highly anhedonic MDD show decreased glutamine concentrations. |
Positive
|
|
Anhedonia (anhedonia)
|
symptoms |
N-acetylaspartate (N-acetylaspartate) |
molecule |
|
Glutamate and N-acetylaspartate concentrations correlate with emotional intensity ratings, an anhedonia surrogate, in those with MDD but not in healthy subjects |
Positive
|
|
Anhedonia (anhedonia)
|
symptoms |
pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC)) |
brain morphology and function |
|
glutamine levels and lower functional responses in pgACC in anhedonic depressed patients |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Glutamates (glutamate) |
molecule |
|
Glutamate concentrations in pgACC correlate with negative BOLD responses induced by emotional stimulation in MDD. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Glutamine (glutamine) |
molecule |
|
Patients with highly anhedonic MDD show decreased glutamine concentrations. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
N-acetylaspartate (N-acetylaspartate) |
molecule |
|
N-acetylaspartate concentrations in pgACC correlate with negative BOLD responses induced by emotional stimulation in MDD |
Positive
|
