Spectroscopic Imaging at 4T: A Drug Challenge Study (CEBRA2)
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Purpose
An advanced technique for rapid magnetic resonance proton spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) will be employed in a drug challenge study in healthy volunteers to spatially map and measure acute changes in the brain chemicals GABA, glutamate and glutamine after administration of a drug. Three condition will be tested in a double-blind fashion, i)depressant, ii)stimulant, iii)placebo. It is hypothesized that unique and reproducible spatial and directional metabolic response patterns will be observed, unique to each condition within the brain.
| Condition | Intervention |
|---|---|
|
AOD Effects and Consequences |
Drug: Alprazolam Drug: Dextroamphetamine |
| Study Type: | Interventional |
| Study Design: | Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator) Primary Purpose: Basic Science |
| Official Title: | Spectroscopic Imaging of GABA and Glutamate/Glutamine in Healthy Volunteers at 4T: A Double Blind, Crossover Drug Challenge Study |
- Magnitude of metabolite level changes throughout the brain with separate administration of Dexedrine and Alprazolam [ Time Frame: Measures taken in 20 minute intervals for 2 hours ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]The primary goal of this study is to assess the efficacy of an advanced spectroscopic imaging protocol in detecting changes in the levels of brain GABA, glutamate and glutamine in response to an acute drug challenge. In addition to detecting changes in metabolite levels, it is anticipated that our protocol will allow us to spatially map the distribution of these changes within the brain.
- Spatial distribution of metabolite level changes throughout the brain with separate administration of Dexedrine and Alprazolam [ Time Frame: Measures taken in 20 minute intervals for 2 hours ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
| Estimated Enrollment: | 30 |
| Study Start Date: | June 2012 |
| Estimated Study Completion Date: | June 2013 |
| Estimated Primary Completion Date: | June 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
| Arms | Assigned Interventions |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Healthy Volunteers
Healthy male volunteers receiving drug and undergoing 1H-MRSI scanning
|
Drug: Alprazolam
Alprazolam, gel-capsule, 1mg, single-dose, 1-day
Other Name: Xanax
Drug: Dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine, gel-capsule, 20mg, single-dose, 1-day
Other Name: Dexedrine
|
Detailed Description:
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) is a powerful tool for assessing neurochemistry non-invasively in vivo. However, the primary shortcoming in most studies is the lack of spatial coverage afforded by the typical single-voxel design. Limits on participant tolerance and financial resources restrict single-voxel studies to an examination of one or two carefully chosen voxels per scan, thus inadequately addressing the question of focal vs. global pathophysiology. A secondary shortcoming is that most studies report on either GABA or glutamate-glutamine (Glu-Gln) due to the technically demanding spectral-editing techniques that must be implemented in order to resolve and quantify those metabolites with any accuracy.
1H MRS imaging (MRSI) can partially overcome these limitations by providing a global picture of brain chemistry rather than just the focal snapshot afforded by the single-voxel design. However, the scan time necessary for collecting enough data for adequate spatial resolution and signal-to-noise, particularly if also using specialized spectral-editing techniques, is still too lengthy. We recently developed a method that combines Spectroscopic Imaging with the MEGAPRESS-based difference-editing acquisition for optimal GABA detection as well as for optimal detection of Glu and Gln. This MEGACSI sequence will permit us to obtain the maximum amount of neurochemical information in a clinically sound scan time, while using the current state-of-the-art MRS editing methods for optimal detection of GABA, Glu, and Gln.
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 21 Years to 45 Years |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Male |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participants will be male volunteers between the ages of 21-45
- Non-smoking participants are preferred, but will admit those who smoke less than 5 cigarettes per day
- Participants must be able to read screening materials including consent form and give informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants cannot meet DSM-IV criteria for lifetime and/or current mood, anxiety, psychotic, and alcohol/drug use disorders as identified by the SCID
- Participants cannot be taking any prescription medication (except oral contraceptives, certain short-term anti-fungal agents, and some topical creams for dermal conditions) or nutritional supplements
- Participants cannot be taking any psychotropic medications
- Participants cannot have a history of major head trauma resulting in cognitive impairment, seizure, or other neurological disorders.
- Participants cannot have any conditions that are contraindicated for MRI
- Participants cannot have a family history of alcoholism
- Participants cannot have any abnormal blood chemistries/urinalysis results or any other medical condition that may affect drug disposition (e.g., Hepatitis C)
- Participants cannot have current or past cardiac problems, and they also cannot have a family history of sudden death or ventricular arrhythmia
- Participants who, in the investigators' judgment, will not likely be able to comply with the study protocol.
- Participants cannot have any clinically significant findings in the structural anatomic brain scans (per the MRI report read by a board-certified radiologist).
Contacts and Locations| Contact: John E Jensen, Ph.D. | (617)-855-3366 | ejensen@mclean.harvard.edu |
| Contact: Stephanie C Licata, Ph.D. | (617)-855-2738 | slicata@mclean.harvard.edu |
| United States, Massachusetts | |
| McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital | Recruiting |
| Belmont, Massachusetts, United States, 02478-9106 | |
| Contact: John E Jensen, Ph.D. 617-855-3366 ejensen@mclean.harvard.edu | |
| Contact: Stephanie C Licata, Ph.D. (617)-855-2738 slicata@mclean.harvard.edu | |
| Principal Investigator: | John E Jensen, Ph.D. | Mclean Hospital |
More Information
No publications provided
| Responsible Party: | John Eric Nestler Jensen, Associate Biophysicist, Director-High Field Imaging and Spectroscopy Program, Mclean Hospital |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01577706 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | 2012P000197 |
| Study First Received: | April 11, 2012 |
| Last Updated: | March 28, 2013 |
| Health Authority: | United States: Institutional Review Board |
Keywords provided by Mclean Hospital:
|
GABA glutamate glutamine spectroscopy brain |
imaging alprazolam dextroamphetamine placebo |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Alprazolam Dextroamphetamine Hypnotics and Sedatives Central Nervous System Depressants Physiological Effects of Drugs Pharmacologic Actions Central Nervous System Agents Therapeutic Uses Anti-Anxiety Agents Tranquilizing Agents |
Psychotropic Drugs GABA Modulators GABA Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors Dopamine Agents Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors Central Nervous System Stimulants |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on June 18, 2013