In vivo 13C and 1H‐[13C] MRS studies of neuroenergetics and neurotransmitter cycling, applications to neurological and psychiatric disease and brain cancer

• Published in: NMR in biomedicine Vol. 32; no. 10
• Main Authors: Rothman, Douglas L., Graaf, Robin A., Hyder, Fahmeed, Mason, Graeme F., Behar, Kevin L., De Feyter, Henk M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Oxford Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Biological products; Brain; Brain cancer; Cancer; Cycles; Energy costs; In vivo methods and tests; Mental disorders; Neurotransmission; Neurotransmitters; Spatial resolution
• ISSN: 0952-3480; 1099-1492
• DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4172

In the last 25 years 13C MRS has been established as the only noninvasive method for measuring glutamate neurotransmission and cell specific neuroenergetics. Although technically and experimentally challenging 13C MRS has already provided important new information on the relationship between neuroenergetics and neuronal function, the high energy cost of brain function in the resting state and the role of altered neuroenergetics and neurotransmitter cycling in disease. In this paper we review the metabolic and neurotransmitter pathways that can be measured by 13C MRS and key findings on the linkage between neuroenergetics, neurotransmitter cycling, and brain function. Applications of 13C MRS to neurological and psychiatric disease as well as brain cancer are reviewed. Recent technological developments that may help to overcome spatial resolution and brain coverage limitations of 13C MRS are discussed. In the last 25 years 13C MRS has been established as the only non invasive method for measuring glutamate neurotransmission and cell specific neuroenergetics. Although technically and experimentally challenging 13C MRS has already provided important new information on the relationship between neuroenergetics and neuronal function, energy cost of brain function, the high neuronal activity in the resting brain state, and how neuroenergetics and neurotransmitter cycling are altered in psychiatric and neurological disease, including brain cancer. I The figure shows the fundamental relationship between neuroenergetics and glutamate and GABA neurotransmission revealed by 13C and 1H – [13C] studies or rodent and human cerebral cortex, with approximately one glucose molecule oxidized in the neuron for every molecule of GABA or glutamate neurotransmitter released. n this paper we review the metabolic and neurotransmitter pathways that can be measured by 13C MRS and key findings on the linkage between neuroenergetics and neurotransmission as well as other aspects of brain function. Recent applications of 13C MRS to neurological and psychiatric disease as well as brain cancer are reviewed. Future technological developments are discussed that will help to overcome limitations of 13C MRS.