A Guide to the Metabolic Pathways and Function of Metabolites Observed in Human Brain 1H Magnetic Resonance Spectra

• Published in: Neurochemical research Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 1 - 36
• Main Author: Rae, Caroline D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-01-2014
• Subjects: Aspartic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Aspartic Acid - metabolism; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain - metabolism; Cell Biology; Choline - metabolism; Creatine - metabolism; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism; Humans; Inositol - metabolism; Lactic Acid - metabolism; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Neurochemistry; Neurology; Neurosciences; Overview; Protons; γ-Aminobutyric acid; Lactate; Creatine; Choline; acetylaspartate; myo-inositol
• ISSN: 0364-3190; 1573-6903
• DOI: 10.1007/s11064-013-1199-5

The current knowledge of the normal biochemistry of compounds that give rise to resonances in human brain proton magnetic resonance spectra measureable at readily available field strengths (i.e. ≤3 T) is reviewed. Molecules covered include myo- and scyllo-inositol, glycerophospho- and phospho-choline and choline, creatine and phosphocreatine,
N
-acetylaspartate,
N
-acetylaspartylglutamate, glutamate, glutamine, γ-aminobutyrate, glucose, glutathione and lactate. The factors which influence changes in the levels of these compounds are discussed. As most proton resonances in the brain at low field are derived from a combination of moieties whose biochemistry is complex and interrelated, an understanding of the mechanisms underlying why these species change is crucial to meaningful interpretation of human brain spectra.