GABA and glutamate in the preterm neonatal brain: In-vivo measurement by magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Sudeepta K. Basu; Subechhya Pradhan; Adre J. du Plessis; Yehezkel Ben-Ari; Catherine Limperopoulos

NeuroImage (Sep 2021)

GABA and glutamate in the preterm neonatal brain: In-vivo measurement by magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Sudeepta K. Basu,
Subechhya Pradhan,
Adre J. du Plessis,
Yehezkel Ben-Ari,
Catherine Limperopoulos

Affiliations

Sudeepta K. Basu: Neonatology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Center for the Developing Brain, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States
Subechhya Pradhan: Center for the Developing Brain, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States
Adre J. du Plessis: Fetal Medicine institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States
Yehezkel Ben-Ari: Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Neurochlore, Marseille, France
Catherine Limperopoulos: Center for the Developing Brain, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 238
p. 118215

Abstract

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Cognitive and behavioral disabilities in preterm infants, even without obvious brain injury on conventional neuroimaging, underscores a critical need to identify the subtle underlying microstructural and biochemical derangements. The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems undergo rapid maturation during the crucial late gestation and early postnatal life, and are at-risk of disruption after preterm birth. Animal and human autopsy studies provide the bulk of current understanding since non-invasive specialized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to measure GABA and glutamate are not routinely available for this vulnerable population due to logistical and technical challenges. We review the specialized 1H-MRS techniques including MEscher-GArwood Point Resolved Spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS), special challenges and considerations needed for interpretation of acquired data from the developing brain of preterm infants. We summarize the limited in-vivo preterm data, highlight the gaps in knowledge, and discuss future directions for optimal integration of available in-vivo approaches to understand the influence of GABA and glutamate on neurodevelopmental outcomes after preterm birth.

Published in NeuroImage

ISSN: 1053-8119 (Print); 1095-9572 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/neuroimage

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