TRACE ELEMENT CONCENTRATION IN HUMAN BRAIN

TLDR

Essential trace elements display region‑specific distributions that reflect their metabolic roles in the brain. Neutron activation analysis of 60 tissue samples from 13 brains quantified concentrations of nine trace elements across defined brain regions. Non‑essential elements varied more across regions than essential ones; basal ganglia had higher Fe and Rb; Fe rose with age while Rb fell; essential elements showed strong inter‑hemispheric correlations and regional differences.

Abstract

Up to 60 tissue samples were dissected from 13 human brains in defined regions and were analysed by means of neutron activation analysis for trace element concentration of cobalt, iron, rubidium, selesium, zinc, chromium, silver, cesium, antimony and scandium. It was shown that the variation in concentration of the non-essential elements in the different brain regions was greater than the corresponding variations in concentration of the essential elements. The mean values of Fe and Rb concentrations were higher in the basal ganglia than in the cortex areas. With increasing age the Fe concentration in the human brain was found to increase and that of Rb to decrease. Comparison of the trace element concentration in corresponding areas of the right and left hemispheres showed highly significant positive correlations for the essential elements. The concentration of each of the essential elements Fe, Rb and Zn was also found to differ significantly between defined functional regions. The characteristic distribution of essential trace elements in different areas is discussed in the light of known metabolic functions of these elements.