Effects of acute ovarian hormone suppression on the human brain: an in vivo 1H MRS study

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007 Sep-Nov;32(8-10):1128-32. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.06.004. Epub 2007 Jul 20.

Abstract

A previous proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) study carried out by our group indicated that post-menopausal women who started taking oestrogen therapy (ET) at or around the menopause had a significantly lower choline (Cho) concentration in the hippocampus and parietal lobe than those who were ET naïve, suggesting that long-term ET positively modulates neuronal/glial membrane turnover in older females. The objective of the current study was to determine whether neuronal membrane turnover is modulated by sex hormones in younger women following a pharmacologic challenge that induced acute ovarian hormone suppression. We carried out an in vivo(1)H MRS study in a group of 10 premenopausal women pre- and post-8 weeks of acute ovarian suppression with a Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone analogue (GnRHa) (two Zoladex 3.6 mg implants). We report that young women, post-ovarian suppression, had a significant increase in Cho concentration (and Cho/Cr ratio) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). They also showed a trend to a significant increase in Cho concentration in the hippocampus. This supports our previous findings and adds to the evidence that neuronal/glial membrane metabolism is affected by sex hormones in women.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Choline / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gonadal Hormones / metabolism*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / agonists*
  • Goserelin / pharmacology*
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovary / drug effects*
  • Ovary / metabolism
  • Parietal Lobe / drug effects
  • Parietal Lobe / metabolism
  • Prefrontal Cortex / drug effects
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
  • Protons
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Gonadal Hormones
  • Protons
  • Goserelin
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Choline