Glutamate concentration in the brain of individuals with autism: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

本研究的目的是通过磁共振波谱（MRS）检查自闭症大脑中谷氨酸能神经递质系统可能的变化。我们在35名未服药的自闭症患者和35名年龄和性别匹配的对照组中使用3-T扫描仪，通过MRS测量谷氨酸和谷氨酰胺以及主要代谢物如n-乙酰天冬氨酸、胆碱和肌酸的浓度。感兴趣的区域位于小脑蚓部、内侧额叶皮质、基底神经节和杏仁核-海马复合体。结果，在自闭症患者和对照组之间，在所有感兴趣的区域中，代谢物的浓度没有显著差异。目前的mrs研究未能支持一些先前研究报道的自闭症中谷氨酸能神经传递的改变。

The aim of the present study was to examine possible alterations in the glutamatergic neurotransmitter system in the autistic brain by means of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). We measured concentrations of glutamate and glutamine as well as major metabolites such as N-acetylaspartate, choline, and creatine by MRS using 3-T scanner in 35 non-medicated subjects with autism and 35 age- and sex-matched controls. Regions of interest were placed over the cerebellar vermis, medial frontal cortices, basal ganglia, and amygdala -hippocampal complex. As a result, there was no significant difference in concentrations of any of metabolites throughout regions of interest measured between subjects with autism and controls. The current MRSstudy failed to support alterations in the glutamatergic neurotransmission in autism reported by some previous studies.