title: Detection, identification and mapping of iron anomalies in brain tissue using X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
abstract: This work describes a novel method for the detection, identification and mapping of anomalous iron compounds in mammalian brain tissue using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. We have located and identified individual iron anomalies in an avian tissue model associated with ferritin, biogenic magnetite and haemoglobin with a pixel resolution of less than 5 microm. This technique represents a breakthrough in the study of both intra- and extra-cellular iron compounds in brain tissue. The potential for high-resolution iron mapping using microfocused X-ray beams has direct application to investigations of the location and structural form of iron compounds associated with human neurodegenerative disorders--a problem which has vexed researchers for 50 years.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Florida, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mikhaylova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toastmann
authors.forename: J E T
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Channell
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guyodo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Batich
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dobson
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D010856:Columbidae; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007501:Iron