title: Imaging Metals in Brain Tissue by Laser Ablation - Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS).
abstract: Metals are found ubiquitously throughout an organism, with their biological role dictated by both their chemical reactivity and abundance within a specific anatomical region. Within the brain, metals have a highly compartmentalized distribution, depending on the primary function they play within the central nervous system. Imaging the spatial distribution of metals has provided unique insight into the biochemical architecture of the brain, allowing direct correlation between neuroanatomical regions and their known function with regard to metal-dependent processes. In addition, several age-related neurological disorders feature disrupted metal homeostasis, which is often confined to small regions of the brain that are otherwise difficult to analyze. Here, we describe a comprehensive method for quantitatively imaging metals in the mouse brain, using laser ablation - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and specially designed image processing software. Focusing on iron, copper and zinc, which are three of the most abundant and disease-relevant metals within the brain, we describe the essential steps in sample preparation, analysis, quantitative measurements and image processing to produce maps of metal distribution within the low micrometer resolution range. This technique, applicable to any cut tissue section, is capable of demonstrating the highly variable distribution of metals within an organ or system, and can be used to identify changes in metal homeostasis and absolute levels within fine anatomical structures.
authors.affiliation: Elemental Bio-imaging Facility, University of Technology Sydney; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne; dominic.hare@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Dominic J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kysenius
authors.affiliation: School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Bence
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Research School, Ruhr University; Department of Physiology, Monash University.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knauer
authors.affiliation: ESI Ltd., Bozeman.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.affiliation: ESI Ltd., Bozeman.
authors.forename: Ciaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Agilent Technologies, Mulgrave.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fryer
authors.affiliation: Agilent Technologies, Mulgrave.
authors.forename: Tom P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Hennessey
authors.affiliation: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Ashley I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Crouch
authors.affiliation: Elemental Bio-imaging Facility, University of Technology Sydney.
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Doble
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals