Glutamate Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Imaging and Functional Alterations of Hippocampus in Rat Depression Model: A Pilot Study

Background Adjusting abnormal glutamate neurotransmission is a crucial mechanism in the treatment of depression. However, few non‐invasive techniques could effectively detect changes in glutamate neurotransmitters, and no consensus exists on whether glutamate could affect resting‐state function changes in depression. Purpose To study the changes in glutamate chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) value in the hippocampus of rat model exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and to explore the effect of this change on the activity of hippocampal glutamatergic neurons. Study Type Prospective animal study. Animal Model Twenty male Sprague–Dawley rats (200–300 g). Field Strength/Sequence 7.0 T scanner. Fat rapid acquisition relaxation enhancement sequence for GluCEST, and echo planner imaging sequence for resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs_fMRI). Assessment Rats were divided into two groups: CUMS group (N = 10) and control group (CTRL, N = 10). The magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry analysis was used to quantify the GluCEST data, and evaluate the rs_fMRI data through the amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis. Statistical Tests A t‐test was used to compare the difference in GluCEST or rs_fMRI between CUMS and CTRL groups. Spearman's correlation was applied to explore the correlation between GluCEST values and abnormal fMRI values in hippocampus. Statistical significance was set at P