Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the menstrual cycle: A multi-centre assessment of menstrual cycle effects on GABA & GSH

IF 2.7 4区医学 Q2 BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS

Journal of Neuroscience Methods Pub Date : 2025-03-19 DOI:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110430

Yulu Song , James J. Prisciandaro , Dace Apšvalka , Mae Bernard , Adam Berrington , Miguel Castelo-Branco , Mark K. Britton , Marta M. Correia , Koen Cuypers , Aleksandra Domagalik , Ulrike Dydak , Niall W. Duncan , Gerard E. Dwyer , Tao Gong , Ian Greenhouse , Katarzyna Hat , Melina Hehl , Shiori Honda , Chris Horton , Steve C.N. Hui , Katherine Dyke

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutathione (GSH) play a significant role in the functioning of a healthy brain and can both be quantified using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Several small-scale studies have suggested MRS measured GABA may fluctuate with the menstrual cycle, but the effects on GSH are unknown. Utilising recent developments in MRS acquisition, this multi-lab study explores this issue across 4 distinctive brain regions.

New methods

Data were analysed from 12 independent sites from which a total of 30 women were scanned during three phases of their menstrual cycle corresponding to early follicular, ovulation and mid luteal phases. HERMES and HERCULES sequences were used to measure GABA and GSH in voxels located in the left motor cortex, left posterior insular, medial parietal and medial frontal. Linear mixed models were used to assess the variability contributed by site, participant and menstrual cycle phase.

Results

Similar variance was attributed to site and menstrual cycle phase for both GABA and GSH data. No systematic changes in GABA or GSH were revealed for any voxel as a consequence of menstrual cycle phase.

Comparison with existing methods

Despite our larger sample size and inclusion of more brain regions we fail to replicate previous findings of GABA change as a consequence of menstrual cycle phase. We also show for the first time that MRS measures of GSH so not significantly alter with cycle.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the menstrual cycle has minimal impact on MRS measures of GABA and GSH. The presence of a menstrual cycle should not be used as justification for exclusion of women in MRS studies.

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磁共振波谱和月经周期：月经周期对GABA和GSH影响的多中心评估。

背景：γ -氨基丁酸（GABA）和谷胱甘肽（GSH）在健康大脑的功能中起着重要作用，两者都可以使用磁共振波谱（MRS）进行量化。几项小规模研究表明，MRS测量的GABA可能随月经周期而波动，但对谷胱甘肽的影响尚不清楚。利用MRS采集的最新进展，这项多实验室研究在4个不同的大脑区域探索了这一问题。新方法：对来自12个独立地点的数据进行了分析，共扫描了30名女性月经周期的三个阶段，分别是卵泡早期、排卵期和黄体中期。使用HERMES和HERCULES序列测量位于左侧运动皮层、左侧后岛叶、内侧顶叶和内侧额叶的体素中的GABA和GSH。使用线性混合模型来评估地点、参与者和月经周期阶段所带来的变异性。结果：GABA和GSH数据的相似方差归因于部位和月经周期阶段。任何体素的GABA或GSH均未因月经周期而发生系统性变化。与现有方法的比较：尽管我们的样本量更大，包含了更多的大脑区域，但我们无法复制先前的发现，即GABA的变化是月经周期阶段的结果。我们也首次表明，MRS测量的谷胱甘肽因此不显著改变周期。结论：我们的研究结果表明，月经周期对GABA和GSH的MRS测量影响最小。月经周期的存在不应作为排除女性参与MRS研究的理由。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Neuroscience Methods 医学-神经科学

CiteScore

7.10

自引率

3.30%

发文量

226

审稿时长

52 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Neuroscience Methods publishes papers that describe new methods that are specifically for neuroscience research conducted in invertebrates, vertebrates or in man. Major methodological improvements or important refinements of established neuroscience methods are also considered for publication. The Journal''s Scope includes all aspects of contemporary neuroscience research, including anatomical, behavioural, biochemical, cellular, computational, molecular, invasive and non-invasive imaging, optogenetic, and physiological research investigations.