BRAIN IMAGING INVESTIGATIONS OF UNIPOLAR DEPRESSED PATIENTS

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 目的：本研究将探讨存在特定的在体内的神经化学和形态学的大脑异常的单极情绪障碍的主题，和他们的潜在参与这种疾病的病理生理。 我们还将在该患者人群中检查与既往自杀行为相关的潜在体内脑相关性。 研究报告：我们将调查30名未服药的单极患者（15名抑郁症患者和15名缓解状态患者）和30名年龄、性别、教育水平和种族匹配的健康对照者的局部脑肌醇和血小板膜磷酸肌醇水平。 除此之外，我们还将研究涉及情绪调节的关键脑区的脑形态测量学，以试图确定它们与疾病症状的关系。 我们还将通过比较有自杀企图和没有自杀企图的患者来研究自杀行为的大脑相关性。 方法：所有受试者均接受1.5T质子MIR/MRS脑部扫描，可对位于额叶皮质、内侧颞叶和基底神经节的8 cc脑体素中的肌醇进行定量。 同时，受试者提供用于血小板膜磷酸肌醇测定的血液样本，其通过二维薄层色谱法进行，随后通过扫描激光密度测定法进行。 这项研究具有实质性的希望，有助于更好地了解情绪障碍背后的生化脑功能障碍，并最终指导未来努力开发这些疾病的新治疗方法。 临床相关性：这项研究将允许检查参与异常的磷酸肌醇（PI）通路的病理生理学抑郁症和情绪障碍。 它还将允许检查参与情绪障碍病理生理学中情绪调节的特定脑区的解剖学参与。 它也可能有助于开发新的方法来识别具有高自杀风险的抑郁症单极患者。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. OBJECTIVE: This study will examine the existence of particular in vivo neurochemical and morphometric brain abnormalities in unipolar mood disorder subjects, and their potential involvement in the pathophysiology of this illness. We will also examine potential in vivo brain correlates of prior suicidal behavior in this patient population. RESEARCH PLAN: We will investigate regional brain myo-inositol and platelet membrane phosphoinositide levels in 30 unmedicated unipolar patients (15 depressed and 15 in the remitted state) and 30 age, sex, educational level, and race-matched healthy controls. In addition to that, we will examine brain morphometry of key brain regions involved in mood regulation, to attempt to determine their relationship with illness symptoms. We will also examine brain correlates of suicide behavior by comparing patients with prior suicide attempts and the ones without such attempts. METHODS: All subjects undergo a 1.5T proton MIR/MRS brain scan, which allows the quantitation of myoinositol in 8cc brain voxels located in the frontal cortex, medial temporal lobe, and basal ganglia. At the same time, subjects provide a blood sample for platelet determination of membrane phosphoinositides, which is done with two-dimensional thin layer chromatography, followed by scanning laser densitometry. This research holds substantial promise to contribute to a better understanding of the biochemical brain dysfunction underlying mood disorders, and ultimately guide future efforts towards the development of new treatments for these conditions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study will allow examination of involvement of abnormalities in the phosphoinositol (PI) pathway in pathophysiology of depression and mood disorders. It will also allow examination of anatomical involvement of specific brain regions participating in mood regulation in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. It could also possibly aid in development of new ways to identify depressed unipolar patients at high risk for suicide.