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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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