LOWER POSTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX GLUTATHIONE LEVELS IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER.
Brian P Brennan1, J Eric Jensen2, Christine Perriello3
1Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Institute, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Summary
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) show lower glutathione (GSH) levels in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), suggesting increased oxidative stress. This study is the first to measure brain GSH in OCD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Oxidative stress and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels are hypothesized to play a role in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- Previous research has not directly measured brain GSH levels in individuals with OCD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cerebral glutathione (GSH) levels in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- To explore the relationship between GSH levels, oxidative stress, and symptom severity in OCD.
Main Methods:
- Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to measure GSH levels in the PCC of 29 individuals with OCD and 25 controls.
- Data were analyzed using LCModel, with metabolite ratios referenced to total creatine (Cr).
- Linear regression was employed to assess group differences and correlations with symptom severity (Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale - Y-BOCS).
Main Results:
- Significantly lower GSH/Cr ratios were observed in the PCC of individuals with OCD compared to controls (P = 0.014).
- No significant association was found between PCC GSH/Cr ratios and OCD symptom severity (Y-BOCS scores).
Conclusions:
- Reduced GSH/Cr in the PCC may indicate heightened oxidative stress and hypermetabolism in this brain region in OCD.
- Further MRS research is recommended to examine GSH levels in other brain regions implicated in the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit in OCD.
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