Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the menstrual cycle: A multi-centre assessment of menstrual cycle effects on GABA & GSH

Yulu Song, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
James J. Prisciandaro, Addiction Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
Dace Apšvalka, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.
Mae Bernard, School of Psychology and Sports Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Adam Berrington, Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Miguel Castelo-Branco, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Portugal.
Mark K. Britton, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Marta M. Correia, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.
Koen Cuypers, Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Aleksandra Domagalik, Centre for Brain Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
Ulrike Dydak, School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Niall W. Duncan, Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Gerard E. Dwyer, Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; NORMENT Centre of Excellence, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Tao Gong, Departments of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Departments of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Ian Greenhouse, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
Katarzyna Hat, Doctoral School in the Social Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Poland; Consciousness Lab, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
Melina Hehl, Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Translational MRI, Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Shiori Honda, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Chris Horton, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
Steve C. Hui, Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Radiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Stephen R. Jackson, School of psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Neurotherapeutics Ltd, The Ingenuity Centre, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Triumph Road, Nottingham NG7 2TU, UK; Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Daniella L. Jones, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
Maren S. Klan, Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
In Kyoon Lyoo, Ewha Brain Institute, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Marius O. Mada, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.
Bronte V. McNamara, Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU Shuang-Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Paul G. Mullins, School of Psychology and Sports Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
Emlyn Muska, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
Shinichiro Nakajima, Consciousness Lab, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland; Multimodal Imaging Group, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Canada.
Hayami Nishio, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
Andreia C. Pereira, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Portugal.
Eric C. Porges, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-19-2025

Journal

Journal of neuroscience methods

Volume

418

DOI

10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110430

Keywords

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA); Glutathione (GSH); Hadamard Encoding and Reconstruction of MEGA-Edited; Magnetic resonance, spectroscopy (MRS); Menstrual cycle; Oestrogen; Spectroscopy (HERMES)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutathione (GSH) play a significant role in the functioning of a healthy brain and can both be quantified using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Several small-scale studies have suggested MRS measured GABA may fluctuate with the menstrual cycle, but the effects on GSH are unknown. Utilising recent developments in MRS acquisition, this multi-lab study explores this issue across 4 distinctive brain regions. NEW METHODS: Data were analysed from 12 independent sites from which a total of 30 women were scanned during three phases of their menstrual cycle corresponding to early follicular, ovulation and mid luteal phases. HERMES and HERCULES sequences were used to measure GABA and GSH in voxels located in the left motor cortex, left posterior insular, medial parietal and medial frontal. Linear mixed models were used to assess the variability contributed by site, participant and menstrual cycle phase. RESULTS: Similar variance was attributed to site and menstrual cycle phase for both GABA and GSH data. No systematic changes in GABA or GSH were revealed for any voxel as a consequence of menstrual cycle phase. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Despite our larger sample size and inclusion of more brain regions we fail to replicate previous findings of GABA change as a consequence of menstrual cycle phase. We also show for the first time that MRS measures of GSH so not significantly alter with cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the menstrual cycle has minimal impact on MRS measures of GABA and GSH. The presence of a menstrual cycle should not be used as justification for exclusion of women in MRS studies.

Department

Radiology

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