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Background <p>Low birth weight and preterm infants may have higher risks of poor health. As the key brain region for learning and memory, normal development of the hippocampus is crucial for the cognitive abilities of preterm infants.</p> Objective <p>This study aimed to analyze hippocampal glutamate (Glu) levels and morphometric changes in preterm infants at term-equivalent age (TEA) with different birth weights.</p> Materials and methods <p>Eighty-seven infants (23 full-term infants and 64 preterm infants) born between 2023 and 2025, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at TEA. Glutamate chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) MRI and 3D-SPACE were used to assess hippocampal Glu levels and morphometric changes. The preterm cohort was categorized by birth weight: preterm infants born at extremely and very low birth weight (Group 1), preterm infants born at low birth weight (Group 2) and preterm infants born at normal birth weight (Group 3). Full-term infants born at normal birth weight (Group 4) were included as controls.</p> Results <p>Group 1 exhibited elevated Glu levels, Group 2 showed intermediate Glu levels. In infants with normal birth weight, preterm at TEA have higher glutamate levels than full-term infants. No differences were observed in the bilateral hippocampal Glu levels within each group. The bilateral hippocampal volume, surface area, and long diameter in Group 1 were all significantly smaller than those in Group 3. Morphological analysis revealed rightward hippocampal asymmetry in all preterm groups.</p> Conclusion <p>Birth weight significantly influences hippocampal glutamate levels and morphology in preterm infants. These findings offer new insights into the metabolic variations in preterm neurodevelopment.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Magnetic resonance imaging-based assessment of hippocampal glutamate and morphometric changes in preterm infants at term-equivalent age with low birth weight

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月23日

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  • Lumeng Xu,
  • He Gong,
  • Qingfa Ren,
  • Shuyuan Xia,
  • Minglong Li,
  • Hongyu Ning,
  • Quanyuan Liu,
  • Caixia Yang,
  • Jing Wang,
  • Zhijie Yin,
  • Xianglin Li

摘要

Background

Low birth weight and preterm infants may have higher risks of poor health. As the key brain region for learning and memory, normal development of the hippocampus is crucial for the cognitive abilities of preterm infants.

Objective

This study aimed to analyze hippocampal glutamate (Glu) levels and morphometric changes in preterm infants at term-equivalent age (TEA) with different birth weights.

Materials and methods

Eighty-seven infants (23 full-term infants and 64 preterm infants) born between 2023 and 2025, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at TEA. Glutamate chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) MRI and 3D-SPACE were used to assess hippocampal Glu levels and morphometric changes. The preterm cohort was categorized by birth weight: preterm infants born at extremely and very low birth weight (Group 1), preterm infants born at low birth weight (Group 2) and preterm infants born at normal birth weight (Group 3). Full-term infants born at normal birth weight (Group 4) were included as controls.

Results

Group 1 exhibited elevated Glu levels, Group 2 showed intermediate Glu levels. In infants with normal birth weight, preterm at TEA have higher glutamate levels than full-term infants. No differences were observed in the bilateral hippocampal Glu levels within each group. The bilateral hippocampal volume, surface area, and long diameter in Group 1 were all significantly smaller than those in Group 3. Morphological analysis revealed rightward hippocampal asymmetry in all preterm groups.

Conclusion

Birth weight significantly influences hippocampal glutamate levels and morphology in preterm infants. These findings offer new insights into the metabolic variations in preterm neurodevelopment.

Graphical Abstract