ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the changes of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the anterior cingulate cortex of perimenopausal women with depression.Methods Forty perimenopausal women as the experimental group and ten healthy women as the control group were recruited and followed up for 18 to 24 months.The proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was used to acquire the concentrations of GABA in the anterior cingulate cortex.The experimental group was examined before and after menopause.The control group was examined before into the group and after out of the group.The experimental group after menopause was further divided into the anxiety group and the depression group according to the Classification and Diagnostic Criteria of Mental Disorders in China-Third Edition (CCMD-3), 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA-14) and 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17).The data of three groups were compared respectively.Results The results showed that the concentrations of GABA after menopause in both of the anxiety group and depression group were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those before menopause, and were also significantly lower (P<0.05) than those in the control group.The concentrations of GABA after menopause in the depression group were significantly lower(P<0.05) than those in the anxiety group.Conclusion The changes of GABA in the anterior cingulate cortex are related with the pathophysiology mechanism of perimenopausal depression and the symptoms of perimenopausal depression.