Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human basal ganglia: Response tococaine administration

Background: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine th e effects of intravenous cocaine or placebo administration on human basal g anglia water and metabolite resonances. Methods: Long echo time, proton magnetic resonance spectra of water and int racellular metabolites were continuously acquired from an 8-cm(3) voxel cen tered on the left caudate and putamen nuclei before, during, and after the intravenous administration of cocaine or a placebo in a double-blind manner . Results: Cocaine, at both 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg, did not alter the peak area fo r water. Cocaine at 0.2 mg/kg induced small and reversible increases in cho line-containing compounds and N-acetylaspartate peak areas. Cocaine at 0.4 mg/kg induced larger and more sustained increases in choline-containing com pounds and N-acetylaspartate peak areas. No changes in either water or meta bolite resonances were noted following placebo administration, Conclusions: These increases in choline-containing compounds and N-acetylas partate peak areas may reflect increases in metabolite T2 relaxation times secondary to osmotic stress and/or increased phospholipid signaling within the basal ganglia following cocaine administration. This is the first repor t of acute, drug-induced changes in the intensity of human brain proton mag netic resonance spectroscopy resonance areas. (C) 2000 Society of Biologica l Psychiatry.