ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the characteristic findings of 1H-MR spectroscopy(1H-MRS) in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala of patients with heroine dependence(HD), and the relationship to total cumulative dose of inhaled heroine.Methods Fourteen male HD patients and 12 healthy controls (HC) underwent 1H-MRS at the prefrontal cortex and amygdala regions.The total cumulative in haled heroin dose was (852±341) g in HD.Ratios of N-acetylaspartate/creatine(NAA/Cr) and choline/creatine (Cho/Cr) were respectively measured in the prefrontal cortex and bilateral amygdale regions.The student's t test and the linear correlation were employed for statistical analysis.Results Compared to HC group, HD patients had a significant lower ratio of NAA/Cr in the prefrontal cortex (1.44±0.46 vs 1.50±0.75, t=1.77 ,P <0.05), left amygdala region (1.32±0.08 vs 1.42±0.08, t=3.41, P < 0.05), and right amygdala region (1.34±0.09 vs 1.44±0.10, t=2.63, P <0.05), the HD patients had a significant increased ratio of Cho/Cr in the prefrontal cortex (0.92±0.06 vs 0.86±0.08, t=2.31, P < 0.05), left amygdala region (1.20+0.12 vs 1.07±0.04, t=3.60,P<0.05) and right amygdala region(1.26±0.15 vs 1.12±0.11,t=2.60,P <0.05).There was a negative linear correlation between the total cumulative inhaled heroine dose and the ratio of NKA/Cr in the prefrontal cortex (r=-0.9159, P < 0.01), left amygdala region (r=-0.8756, P < 0.01), and right amygdala region (r=-0.9399, P < 0.01) respectively.Conclusions The study indicates that neuronal damage and glial proliferation may occur in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala region, which suggests the abnormalities of executive function and emotion in patients with HD.A relationship exists between the heroin-induced metabolic abnormality and the total cumulative dose of inhaled heroine.