Abstract #1816

Upregulation of hippocampal glutamatergic neurotransmission during acute episodes of major depression: Excitotoxic effects might be related to reduced hippocampal volumes

Jochen Bauer¹, Patricia Ohrmann², Bendix Labeit², Elke Scherbiski², and Harald Kugel¹

¹Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany, ²Department of Psychiatry, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany

Investigation of the glutamatergic metabolism with ¹H-spectroscopy revealed a significant higher glutamate level in the hippocampus in patients with major depression. The excitotoxicity of increased glutamate levels on neural brain structures might be causally related to reduced volumes of hippocampi as found in patients with recurrend episodes.

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