title: Iron, copper, and zinc distribution of the cerebellum.
abstract: Synchrotron rapid-scanning X-ray fluorescence (RS-XRF) is employed for the first time to simultaneously map iron, copper, and zinc in the normal cerebellum. The cerebellum is a major repository of metals that are essential to normal function. Therefore, mapping the normal metal distribution is an important first step towards understanding how multiple metals may induce oxidative damage, protein aggregation, and neurotoxicity leading to cerebellar degeneration in a wide range of diseases. We found that cerebellar white and grey matter could be sharply defined based upon the unique metal content of each region. The dentate nucleus was particularly metal-rich with copper localized to the periphery and iron and zinc abundant centrally. We discuss how RS-XRF metal mapping in the normal brain may yield important clues to the mechanisms of degeneration in the dentate nucleus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Bogdan F Gh
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajput
authors.forename: Ali H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Rajput
authors.forename: Sheri L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nichol
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008664:Metal Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009448:Neurochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc