Evaluation of Glutamate and GABA in the Anterior Cingulate Gyrus of Chronic Pain Patients with MR Spectroscopy

本研究的主要目的是利用质子MRS确定慢性疼痛如何诱导ACC神经活动的变化。利用配备MRS分析装置的3-特斯拉MR装置，从光谱峰测定该区域的n -乙酰天冬氨酸（NAA）、谷氨酸（Glu）和GABA水平。然后比较患者和对照组之间的NAA、Glu和GABA水平。慢性疼痛患者组ACC中NAA和GABA水平明显低于对照组。研究表明，扣带回前区抑制性神经传递效率的降低参与了慢性疼痛的病理过程。

The main objective of this study is to determine how chronic pain can induce changes in nerve activity in the ACC using proton MRS. The N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate(Glu), and GABA levels in the regions were determined from the spectral peaks, using 3-tesla MR device equipped with an MRS analytical device. The NAA, Glu, and GABA levels were then compared between the patient and control groups.The NAA and GABA levels in the ACC were significantly decreased in the chronic pain patient group compared to those in the control group. It was suggested that decreased inhibitory neurotransmission efficiency in the anterior cingulate gyrus is involved in the pathology of chronic pain.