TY - JOUR

T1 - Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the menstrual cycle

T2 - a multi-centre assessment of menstrual cycle effects on GABA & GSH

AU - Song, Yulu

AU - Prisciandaro, James J

AU - Apšvalka, Dace

AU - Bernard, Mae

AU - Berrington, Adam

AU - Castelo-Branco, Miguel

AU - Britton, Mark K

AU - Correia, Marta M

AU - Cuypers, Koen

AU - Domagalik, Aleksandra

AU - Dydak, Ulrike

AU - Duncan, Niall W

AU - Dwyer, Gerard E

AU - Gong, Tao

AU - Greenhouse, Ian

AU - Hat, Katarzyna

AU - Hehl, Melina

AU - Honda, Shiori

AU - Horton, Chris

AU - Hui, Steve

AU - Jackson, Stephen

AU - Jones, Daniella L

AU - Klan, Maren S

AU - Lyoo, In Kyoon

AU - Mada, Marius O

AU - McNamara, Bronte V

AU - Mullins, Paul

AU - Muska, Emlyn

AU - Nakajima, Shinichiro

AU - Nishio, Hayami

AU - Pereira, Andreia C

AU - Porges, Eric

AU - Rowsell, Michelle

AU - Ruopp, Rubi

AU - Shortell, Destin

AU - Smith, Caitlin M

AU - Swinnen, Stephan

AU - Šušnjar, Antonia

AU - Tseng, Lin-Yuan

AU - Violante, Ines R

AU - Yoon, Sujung

AU - Edden, Richard A E

AU - Dyke, Katherine

N1 - Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2025/3/19

Y1 - 2025/3/19

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110430

DO - 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110430

M3 - Article

C2 - 40118122

JO - Journal of Neuroscience Methods

JF - Journal of Neuroscience Methods

SN - 0165-0270

M1 - 110430

ER -