OBJECTIVE: Functional imaging studies on obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) subjects have repeatedly reported increased metabolism in orbitofrontal lobes and caudate nucleus, resulting in the "frontal-subcortical" circuit abnormality theory. Limitations of the previous studies to date include little consideration for the duration of illness, and the use of regions of interest methods, as an image analysis method. Our study objectives are 1) to include the duration of illness as an important study variable, and 2) to use Statistical Parametric Mapping(SPM) method in order to tap relations between the brain function and the psychopathology and symptoms of OCD. METHOD: The [18] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography(FDG-PET) scans of OCD subjects and normal comparison subjects, as diagnosed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV(SCID-IV), were analyzed using SPM. RESULTS: 1) Comparison of OCD and control groups: OCD subjects had significantly decreased metabolism in both parietal lobes and didn't have any areas of increased metabolism in comparison to comparison subjects(p<0.01). Four OCD subjects with the illness duration of 10 years or longer, had significantly increased metabolism in both orbitofrontal lobes(p<0.01). OCD subjects whose illness duration is shorter than 10 years didn't have any areas of increased metabolism and had significantly decreased parietal lobe metabolism, as in the analyses of all subjects(p<0.01). 2) Correlation analysis between areas and symptom severity: Metabolism of both thalamic areas showed significant positive correlation with Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale(Y-BOCS) scores(p<0.01). Metabolism of right parietal area showed significant negative corre-lation with Y-BOCS scores(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that the increased metabolism in orbitofrontal lobe, previously reported, may be a secondary phenomenon due to the extended illness duration and that decreased metabolism in the parietal lobes are primary abnormality in OCD subjects. Thus Baxter's fronto-subcortical circuit theory should be extended into "fronto-parietal" complex theory, which includes the parietal lobes.
Brain ; Caudate Nucleus ; Electrons ; Frontal Lobe ; Glucose* ; Metabolism* ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder* ; Parietal Lobe ; Psychopathology ; Rabeprazole

OBJECTIVETo observe the morphological changes during development of the ventricular zone (VZ) and subventricular zone (SVZ) of human fetus and the distribution pattern of neural stem cells in the VA and SVZ.

METHODSHuman fetuses at the gestational ages of 9-11 weeks, 14-16 weeks, 22-24 weeks and 32-36 weeks were collected, and the brain sections of the VZ/SVZ under the frontal lobe were examined for cytoarchitecture and distribution of nestin-positive cells with HE staining, immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence.

RESULTSThe thickness of VZ underwent no significant changes at the gestational ages of 9-24 weeks (P>0.05) and became obviously thinner at 32 weeks (P<0.05), while the thickness of SVZ increased during 9-24 weeks (P<0.05) without obvious thinning at 32 weeks (P>0.05). VZ was thicker than SVZ at 9-11 weeks but became markedly thinner than SVZ after 14 weeks (P<0.05). The VZ contained denser cells than SVZ and showed a distinct boundary between the VZ and SVZ. Large numbers of nestin-positive cells were detected in the VZ and SVZ, and nestin immunoreactivity was found primarily in the cell processes and occasionally in the soma. Some nestin-positive cells in the SVZ had 1-3 processes. Nestin immunoreactivity in the VZ and SVZ gradually grew weak with development. The cells positive for both nestin and Ki67 were located mainly in the inner zone of the VZ and throughout the SVZ, where some nestin-positive but Ki67-negative cells were also found.

CONCLUSIONThe SVZ fully extends and the neural stem cells in the VZ/SVZ can be morphologically heterogeneous during the development of fetal human brain.

Fetus ; Frontal Lobe ; cytology ; embryology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nestin ; metabolism ; Neural Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the growth and development of brain derived neurophic factor(BDNF)-positive neurons in the frontal lobe of human fetus.

METHODSThe expression of the BDNF-positive neurons in the frontal lobe of human fetus in the 2(nd),3(rd),and 4(th) month of gestation were observed with the streptavidin-biotin-complex/immunoperoxidase(SABC)method.

RESULTSBy the second month of gestation,BDNF-positive neurons were seen in the subventricular layer of the frontal lobe of cerebellum.By the third month of gestation,BDNF-positive neurons in the central layer were in various shapes,with big nucleus,less cytoplasm,and small processes.By the fourth month of gestation,BDNF-positive neurons in the central layer grew larger in size,cytoplasm increased,the BDNF-positive expression was enhanced with deeper dyeing,and the nerve fibers and particles were distributed between neurons;also,the BDNF-positive neurons were seen in the marginal layer of the frontal lobe of cerebrum.

CONCLUSIONBDNF-positive neurons may participate in the early development of the frontal lobe of cerebrum of human fetus.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Fetus ; metabolism ; Frontal Lobe ; embryology ; Humans ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism

We report a 43-year-old male who suffered cognitive dysfunction after an electric injury. He underwent evaluation for cognitive dysfunction and cerebral glucose hypometabolism at 1 week and 6 months. In contrast to the progressive decline of frontal lobe functions and visuospatial functions, memory and depressive mood were improved. SPM99 showed hypometabolic areas in the frontal and occipital lobes which were widened. Moreover new cingulate lesions appeared. This illustrates that the progression of derangement of cerebral glucose metabolism is correlated with neuropsychological impairment.
Adult ; Electric Injuries* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Frontal Lobe ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Metabolism ; Neuropsychology ; Occipital Lobe ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Although cognitive impairment is commonly included in the clinical manifestation of PSP, the precise nature of these deficits, as well as their anatomical substrates are not clarified. Our, preliminary study and those of others using 99mTc HMPAO brain SPECT or PET showed the derangement of cortical metabolism or blood flow predominantly in frontal area despite the lack of cortical histopathology. To assess the severity and the specific pattern of cognitive impairment in progressive supranuclear palsy(PSP) and its correlation with the regional cerebral perfusion, a neuropsychological battery encompassing measures of intelligence, language functioning, verbal/visual memory, attention, psychomotor speed and dexterity, visuospatial construction, mental flexibility, and concept formation and reasoning ability was administered to patients with PSP and age/sex matched controls. Patients with PSP had significantly diminished K-WAIS IQ scores when compared with control subjects, although the patients still had "average level' IQ scores. And the patients were particularly impaired when a task required executive and attentional procedures such as abstract concept formation, reasoning, and conceptual shifting. In addition, the severity of frontal lobe dysfunction was well correlated with the regional perfusion index of superior frontal cortex. These results suggest the frontal lobe dysfunction may be the relatively specific aspect of cognitive impairment in PSP and well correlates with the regional cerebral perfusion pattern of PSP.
Brain ; Concept Formation ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory ; Metabolism ; Perfusion* ; Pliability ; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and its cellular distribution in the frontal cortex, ventricular zone (VZ) and subventricular zone (SVZ) in human fetuses.

METHODSAccording to the gestational age, the collected fetuses were divided into 4 groups, namely 9-11 weeks, 14-16 weeks, 22-24 weeks and 32-36 weeks. Brain tissue blocks including the frontal lobe or VZ/SVZ were prepared into slices, and the expression pattern and cellular distribution of mGluR5 in the frontal cortex and VZ/SVZ were observed by immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence.

RESULTSmGluR5 immunoreactivity was present in the cell membrane in the frontal cortex, VZ and SVZ from the 9th to 36th weeks and the immunoreactivity in the marginal zone (MZ) and cortical plate (CP) was markedly stronger than that in VZ and SVZ. The cells expressing mGluR5 included neural stem/progenitor cells in the VZ and SVZ, immature neurons in the VZ and MZ, and numerous mature neurons in the CP.

CONCLUSIONmGluR5 is expressed by a variety of cells such as neural stem cells in the frontal cortex, VZ and SVZ in human fetus, suggesting a role of mGluR5 in the development of human cerebral cortex.

Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Cerebral Ventricles ; cytology ; metabolism ; Fetus ; cytology ; metabolism ; Frontal Lobe ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5 ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate ; metabolism

Animals ; Depression ; etiology ; metabolism ; Frontal Lobe ; metabolism ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology ; Swimming

OBJECTIVE: To detect metabolic changes of bilateral frontal lobe in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and cognitive dysfunction by 1H-proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).
 METHODS: N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine(Cr), choline (Cho)/Cr, myoinositol (mI)/Cr in three sides of frontal lobe were detected by 1H-MRS in 48 healthy controls, 23 patients with MSA and cognitive dysfunction and 19 patients with MSA but without cognitive dysfunction.
 RESULTS: NAA/Cr of bilateral frontal lobes in patients with MSA and cognitive dysfunction was significantly decreased compared with MSA patients without cognitive dysfunction and healthy controls (P<0.05). mI/Cr of right frontal lobes was significantly increased in patients with MSA and cognitive dysfunction compared with healthy controls (P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between NAA/Cr of bilateral frontal lobes and duration while a positive correlation between NAA/Cr of bilateral frontal lobes and MoCA score in patients with MSA and cognitive dysfunction.
 CONCLUSION There is a decrease in NAA/Cr and an increase in mI/Cr in frontal lobes in patients with MSA and cognitive dysfunction, which may be associated with cognitive dysfunction in MSA patients.
Aspartic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Choline ; metabolism ; Cognition Disorders ; physiopathology ; Creatine ; metabolism ; Frontal Lobe ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inositol ; metabolism ; Multiple System Atrophy ; physiopathology ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of discs large homolog 4 (DLG4) protein in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex of rats and evaluate postsynaptic density in heroin dependence. METHODS: The rat heroin dependent model was established by increasing intraperitoneal injection of heroin. DLG4 proteins in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex of heroin dependent 9, 18, 36 days rats were detected with immunohistochemical staining and compared with that in the control group. RESULTS: DLG4 proteins in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex were gradually reduced with extension of heroin dependent time. CONCLUSION Heroin dependence can affect postsynaptic density of hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex. The changes become more apparent with extension of heroin dependence time.
Amygdala/metabolism* ; Animals ; Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein ; Frontal Lobe/metabolism* ; Heroin/pharmacology* ; Heroin Dependence ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Rats

OBJECTIVE: Dopamine plays a significant role in working memory by acting as a key neuromodulator between brain networks. Additionally, treatment of patients with schizophrenia using amisulpride, a pure dopamine class 2/3 receptor antagonist, improves their clinical symptoms with fewer side effects. We hypothesized that patients with schizophrenia treated with amisulpride and aripiprazole show increased working memory and glucose metabolism compared with those treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and aripiprazole instead. METHODS: Sixteen patients with schizophrenia (eight in the amisulpride group [aripiprazole+amisulpride] and eight in the CBT group [aripiprazole+CBT]) and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were recruited for a 12-week-long prospective trial. An [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computerized tomography scanner was used to acquire the images. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of treatment, the amisulpride group showed greater improvement in the Letter-Number Span scores than the CBT group. Additionally, although brain metabolism in the left middle frontal gyrus, left occipital lingual gyrus, and right inferior parietal lobe was increased in all patients with schizophrenia, the amisulpride group exhibited a greater increase in metabolism in both the right superior frontal gyrus and right frontal precentral gyrus than the CBT group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a small dose of amisulpride improves the general psychopathology, working memory performance, and brain glucose metabolism of patients with schizophrenia treated with aripiprazole.
Aripiprazole ; Brain ; Cognition ; Cognitive Therapy ; Dopamine ; Electrons ; Frontal Lobe ; Glucose ; Humans ; Memory, Short-Term ; Metabolism ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Occipital Lobe ; Parietal Lobe ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Prospective Studies ; Psychopathology ; Schizophrenia ; Sulpiride