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. 2017 Oct;36(5):380-386.
doi: 10.1080/15513815.2017.1346019.

Brain Maturation-Differences in Biochemical Composition of Fetal and Child's Brain

Andrzej Urbanik  1 , Monika Cichocka  1 , Justyna Kozub  1 , Paulina Karcz  2 , Izabela Herman-Sucharska  2
Affiliations

Brain Maturation-Differences in Biochemical Composition of Fetal and Child's Brain

Andrzej Urbanik et al. Fetal Pediatr Pathol. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in 1H MRS spectra of the brain of fetuses and children from 6 to 11 years of age.

Material and methods: 21 healthy fetuses in the third trimester and 22 children were examined using the proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The relative metabolite concentrations to the sum of all metabolites were calculated.

Results: In the 1H MRS spectra of the brain from fetuses and children, there are the same characteristic peaks: N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), and myo-inositol (mI). NAA/Σ, NAA/Cr, and Cr/Σ concentrations are significantly higher and Cho/Σ, Cho/Cr, mI/Σ, and mI/Cr are significantly lower in children than in the fetuses.

Conclusions: It was found that the brain metabolism changes from fetal life to childhood. The results of this study may provide a valuable basis for further research on brain maturation and "healthy aging."

Keywords: brain; brain development; children; fetuses; proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS).

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