BACKGROUND: N-acetylaspartylglutamate is found in neurons and its metabolite N-acetylaspartate, which can be measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy, is considered a marker of neuronal integrity. Several magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have found evidence of N-acetylaspartate deficits in schizophrenia. METHODS: We employed a high-pressure liquid chromatography method to determine N-acetylaspartate and N-acetylaspartylglutamate in postmortem brain tissues taken from a well-defined series of psychiatric cases. N-acetylaspartate and N-acetylaspartylglutamate concentrations were measured in superior temporal and frontal cortices of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression and control subjects. RESULTS: N-acetylaspartate was significantly decreased below controls in superior temporal cortex in schizophrenia (p <.01) and bipolar disorder (p <.01), but no deficits were found in frontal cortex. N-acetylaspartylglutamate was significantly decreased only in superior temporal cortex in schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with evidence of superior temporal cortex abnormalities in schizophrenia. The finding in bipolar disorder suggests that temporal cortex N-acetylaspartate deficits may be a common feature of psychotic disorders.
BACKGROUND:N-acetylaspartylglutamate is found in neurons and its metabolite N-acetylaspartate, which can be measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy, is considered a marker of neuronal integrity. Several magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have found evidence of N-acetylaspartate deficits in schizophrenia. METHODS: We employed a high-pressure liquid chromatography method to determine N-acetylaspartate and N-acetylaspartylglutamate in postmortem brain tissues taken from a well-defined series of psychiatric cases. N-acetylaspartate and N-acetylaspartylglutamate concentrations were measured in superior temporal and frontal cortices of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression and control subjects. RESULTS:N-acetylaspartate was significantly decreased below controls in superior temporal cortex in schizophrenia (p <.01) and bipolar disorder (p <.01), but no deficits were found in frontal cortex. N-acetylaspartylglutamate was significantly decreased only in superior temporal cortex in schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with evidence of superior temporal cortex abnormalities in schizophrenia. The finding in bipolar disorder suggests that temporal cortex N-acetylaspartate deficits may be a common feature of psychotic disorders.
Authors: Frank Jessen; Natascha Fingerhut; Alois M Sprinkart; Kai-Uwe Kühn; Nadine Petrovsky; Wolfgang Maier; Hans-H Schild; Wolfgang Block; Michael Wagner; Frank Träber Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2011-09-12 Impact factor: 9.306
Authors: Annabel Vreeker; Lucija Abramovic; Marco P M Boks; Sanne Verkooijen; Annet H van Bergen; Roel A Ophoff; René S Kahn; Neeltje E M van Haren Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2017-07-06 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Alice Egerton; Lee Reid; Sandie McGregor; Susan M Cochran; Brian J Morris; Judith A Pratt Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2008-04-23 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Rafal T Olszewski; Marta M Wegorzewska; Ana C Monteiro; Kristyn A Krolikowski; Jia Zhou; Alan P Kozikowski; Katrice Long; John Mastropaolo; Stephen I Deutsch; Joseph H Neale Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2007-06-27 Impact factor: 13.382