Increased choline-containing compounds in the orbitofrontal cortex and hippocampus in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

Senaratne, Rhandi; Milne, Andrea M.; MacQueen, Glenda M.; Hall, Geoffrey B.C.

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2008.07.007

« Previous Next »Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Volume 172, Issue 3 , Pages 205-209, 30 June 2009

Increased choline-containing compounds in the orbitofrontal cortex and hippocampus in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

Rhandi Senaratne
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, F130-301 James Street South, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8P 3B6
Andrea M. Milne
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, F130-301 James Street South, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8P 3B6
Glenda M. MacQueen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, F130-301 James Street South, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8P 3B6
- Brain Body Institute, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Geoffrey B.C. Hall
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, F130-301 James Street South, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8P 3B6
- Brain Body Institute, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, F130-301 James Street South, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8P 3B6. Tel.: +1 905 522 1155x34942.

Received 3 December 2007; received in revised form 30 May 2008; accepted 4 July 2008.

Abstract

The neuronal mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) have not been fully characterized. The aim of this study was to compare metabolite levels in the hippocampus and the orbitofrontal cortex in a homogenous population of 12 euthymic patients with well-established BD and 12 age- and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects. Using a GE Signa, 3-Tesla scanner, we performed proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) to examine levels of N-acetyl aspartate, glutamate and choline-containing compounds. Choline-containing compounds were significantly increased in the hippocampus and the orbitofrontal cortex in BD patients relative to control subjects. Significant elevations of glycerophosphocholine+phosphocholine (GPC+PCh) were measured in the hippocampus and the orbitofrontal cortex of patients. As choline is a marker of membrane phospholipid metabolism, the elevated choline in patients may indicate increased membrane breakdown in the brain regions examined. Abnormal neuronal loss within the hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex further supports previous work suggesting that these regions are involved in the pathophysiology of BD.