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Brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children exposed to methamphetamine in utero
L M Smith1, L Chang, M L Yonekura
1Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, Torrance 90502, USA. Berry@chumc.edu
Insights
Prenatal methamphetamine exposure may alter brain energy metabolism, indicated by higher creatine levels in the striatum of exposed children. However, neuronal integrity appears preserved, with no observed behavioral differences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to substances like methamphetamine can impact fetal brain development.
- 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a non-invasive tool to assess brain metabolites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential neurotoxic effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure on the developing brain.
- To evaluate brain metabolite concentrations in children exposed prenatally to methamphetamine using 1H-MRS.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 12 methamphetamine-exposed children and 14 age-matched controls underwent MRI and localized 1H-MRS.
- Metabolite concentrations, including N-acetyl-containing compounds (NA), total creatine (Cr), and choline, were measured in the frontal white matter and striatum.
- Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess behavioral problems.
Main Results:
- Children with prenatal methamphetamine exposure showed significantly higher striatal creatine levels (+10%, p = 0.02) compared to controls.
- N-acetylaspartate (NA), a marker of neuronal integrity, was normal in both groups and regions, suggesting no significant neuronal loss.
- No significant differences in reported behavioral problems were found between the exposed and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Increased striatal creatine in children exposed to methamphetamine in utero suggests potential alterations in brain energy metabolism.
- Preserved N-acetylaspartate levels indicate that neuronal damage or loss may not be a primary consequence of this exposure in the examined brain regions.
Objective:
To examine the possible neurotoxic effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure on the developing brain using 1H-MRS.
Methods:
Methamphetamine-exposed children (n = 12) and age-matched unexposed control subjects (n = 14) were evaluated with MRI, localized 1H-MRS, and a Child Behavior Checklist. Metabolite concentrations of N-acetyl-containing compounds (NA), total creatine (Cr), choline-containing compounds, myoinositol, and glutamate + glutamine were measured in the frontal white matter and striatum.
Results:
Despite an absence of visible structural abnormalities in either group, children exposed to methamphetamine in utero had higher [Cr] (+10%, p = 0.02) in the striatum. [NA], primarily a measure of N-acetylaspartate, was normal in both regions, which suggests no significant neuronal loss or damage in the two brain regions examined. There were no differences in reported behavior problems among the methamphetamine-exposed children relative to the unexposed group.
Conclusions:
The authors found increased [Cr] in the striatum with relatively normal [NA] in children exposed to methamphetamine. These findings suggest an abnormality in energy metabolism in the brains of children exposed to methamphetamine in utero.
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