TOPOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF ZINC IN HUMAN BRAIN BY ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRY¹

Abstract

Abstract— Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for measuring the zinc content, in ppb (μg/1), of brain tissue. A new method for determining the correction factor of atomic absorption interference is described. Measurements of the zinc content of twenty‐four regions of adult human brains showed the maximum zinc content in resistent sector and endplate of the Amnion's horn, corroborating the histochemical data. The distribution of zinc in other regions was relatively uniform, but white matter showed lower values than gray matter. The zinc content of seventeen regions of human newborn brains was below that in adult brains, for all regions. The blood content of brain tissue contributed only insignificantly to its zinc content.