Neurochemical profile of patients with type 1 diabetes measured by ¹H-MRS at 4 T

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2013 May;33(5):754-9. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2013.13. Epub 2013 Feb 13.

Abstract

The impact of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) on a comprehensive neurochemical profile of the human brain has not been reported yet. Our previous proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) studies on T1DM were focused exclusively on the assessment of brain glucose levels. In this study, we reexamined our previously acquired data to investigate concentration differences of a broad range of neurochemicals in T1DM subjects relative to nondiabetic controls. We selected MRS data from 13 subjects (4 F/9 M, age = 41 ± 11 years, body mass index = 26 ± 3 kg/m(2)) with well-controlled T1DM (disease duration = 22 ± 12 years, A1C = 7.5% ± 2.0%) and 32 nondiabetic controls (14 F/18 M, age = 36 ± 10 years, body mass index = 27 ± 6 kg/m(2)) acquired during a hyperglycemic clamp (target [Glc]plasma = 300 ± 15 mg/dL). The (1)H-MR spectra were collected from two 15.6-mL voxels localized in gray-matter-rich occipital lobe and in white-matter-rich parieto-occipital region using ultra-short echo-time STEAM at 4 T. LCModel analysis allowed reliable quantification of 17 brain metabolites. Lower levels of N-acetylaspartate (by 6%, P=0.007) and glutamate (by 6%, P=0.045) were observed in the gray matter of T1DM patients as compared with controls, which might indicate a partial neuronal loss or dysfunction as a consequence of long-term T1DM. No other differences in metabolites were observed between subjects with T1DM and controls.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Aspartic Acid / analysis
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / pathology*
  • Female
  • Glutamic Acid / analysis
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / analysis
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / metabolism
  • Occipital Lobe / metabolism
  • Occipital Lobe / pathology

Substances

  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Glutamic Acid
  • N-acetylaspartate