title: Assessment of trace elements in human brain using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
abstract: Recent brain research reveals a major role of trace elements in various diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Wilson's disease. The majority of published tissue concentrations dates back decades, and was assessed with various methods. Little is known about hemispherical differences, the correlation of trace elements or age-dependent changes in the human brain. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine trace element concentrations in different human brain regions after whole brain formalin fixation. 549 samples of 13 brain regions were investigated in 11 deceased subjects without known history of brain pathology. Regional wet-to-dry mass ratios and concentrations of iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, calcium and zinc were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cortical gray matter revealed higher water content (wet-to-dry mass ratios 5.84-6.40) than white matter regions (wet-to-dry mass ratios 2.95-3.05). Element concentrations displayed specific regional differences. Good linear correlation of concentrations between elements was found for iron/copper as well as for manganese/magnesium (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient 0.74 and 0.65, respectively). Significant inter-hemispherical differences were found for copper in occipital white matter, for magnesium and calcium in putamen and for iron and copper in temporal white matter. An age dependent increase was seen in cortical gray matter for calcium, for magnesium in all regions except in cortical gray matter, for copper in substantia nigra and for zinc in occipital cortex. The presented trace element concentrations can serve as a fundamental basis for further brain research. Wet-to-dry mass ratios allow a comparison with reference data from other studies.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Universitaetsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 2, 8036 Graz, Austria. Electronic address: nikolaus.krebs@cfi.lbg.ac.at.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langkammer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemistry Analytical Chemistry, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Stremayrgasse 16/III, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Goessler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ropele
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazekas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal and Traffic Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Voßstr. 2, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Universitaetsplatz 4/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 2, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scheurer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements
keywords: Human brain; ICP-MS; Iron; Metal-based neurodegeneration; Trace elements