Iron levels in the human brain: a post-mortem study of anatomical region differences and age-related changes.
The link between brain iron homeostasis and neurodegenerative disease has been the subject of extensive research. There is increasing evidence of iron accumulation during ageing, and altered iron levels in some specific brain regions in neurodegenerative disease patients have been reported. Using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid digestion of the samples, iron levels were determined in 14 different areas of the human brain [frontal cortex, superior and middle temporal, caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, cingulated gyrus, hippocampus, inferior parietal lobule, visual cortex of the occipital lobe, midbrain, pons (locus coeruleus), medulla and cerebellum (dentate nucleus)] of n=42 adult individuals (71±12 years old, range: 53-101 years old) with no known history or evidence of neurodegenerative, neurological or psychiatric disorders. It was found that the iron distribution in the adult human brain is quite heterogeneous. The highest levels were found in the putamen (mean±SD, range: 855±295μg/g, 304-1628μg/g) and globus pallidus (739±390μg/g, 225-1870μg/g), and the lowest levels were observed in the pons (98±43μg/g, 11-253μg/g) and medulla (56±25μg/g, 13-115μg/g). Globally, iron levels proved to be age-related. The positive correlation between iron levels and age was most significant in the basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus). Compared with the age-matched control group, altered iron levels were observed in specific brain areas of one Parkinson's disease patient (the basal ganglia) and two Alzheimer's disease patients (the hippocampus).
REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Porto University, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
Patrícia
P
Ramos
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, 4050-167 Porto, Portugal; CENCIFOR - Forensic Science Center, Largo da Sé Nova, s/n, 3000-213 Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; School of Health Sciences, Minho University, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
Agostinho
A
Santos
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, 4050-167 Porto, Portugal.
Nair Rosas
NR
Pinto
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, 4050-167 Porto, Portugal.
Ricardo
R
Mendes
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, 4050-167 Porto, Portugal; CENCIFOR - Forensic Science Center, Largo da Sé Nova, s/n, 3000-213 Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; Biomedical Sciences Institute Abel Salazar, Porto University, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
Teresa
T
Magalhães
REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Porto University, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: aalmeida@ff.up.pt.
Agostinho
A
Almeida
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D001344:Autopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism
D007501:Iron
Ageing; Human brain; Iron levels; Neurodegenerative diseases; Post-mortem analysis