Abstract
Eight elements (i.e. K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Rb) were measured in 50 different regions of 12 normal human brains by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. The dry weight concentrations of K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Rb were consistently higher for gray than for white matter areas. The K, Zn and Se concentrations for the regions of mixed composition and, to some extent, also the Rb concentrations, were intermediate between the gray and white matter values, and they tended to decrease with decreasing neuron density. The mean dry weight concentrations of K, Ca, Zn, Se, and Rb in the various brain regions were highly correlated with the mean wet-to-dry weight ratios of these regions. For Mn, Fe, and Cu, however, such a correlation was not observed, and these elements exhibited elevated levels in several structures of the basal ganglia. For K, Fe, and Se the concentrations seemed to change with age. A hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that the structures clustered into two large groups, one comprising gray and mixed matter regions, the other white and mixed matter areas. Brain structures involved in the same physiological function or morphologically similar regions often conglomerated in a single subcluster.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Underwood, E. J. 1977. Trace Elements in Human and Animal Nutrition. Academic Press, Inc., New York.
Mena, I. 1981. Manganese. Pages 233–270,in, Bronner, F., and Coburn, J. W. (eds.), Disorders of Mineral Metabolism, Vol. 1, Trace Minerals, Academic Press, Inc., New York.
Sandstead, H. H. 1986. Nutrition and brain function: trace elements. Nutr. Rev. 44:37–41.
Fieve, R. R., Jamison, K. R., and Goodnick, P. J. 1985. The use of lithium and experimental rubidium in psychiatry. Pages 107–120,in Gabay, S., Harris, J., and Ho, B. T. (eds.), Metal Ions in Neurology and Psychiatry, A. R. Liss, Inc., New York.
Höck, A., Demmel, U., Schicha, H., Kasperek, K., and Feinendegen, L. E. 1975. Trace element concentration in human brain. Activation analysis of cobalt, iron, rubidium, selenium, zinc, chromium, silver, cesium, antimony and scandium. Brain 98:49–64.
Larsen, N. A., Pakkenberg, H., Damsgaard, E., and Heydorn, K. 1979. Topographical distribution of arsenic, manganese, and selenium in the normal human brain. J. Neurol. Sci. 42:407–416.
Bonilla, E., Salazar, E., Villasmil, J. J., and Villalobos, R., 1982. The regional distribution of manganese in the normal human brain. Neurochem. Res. 7:221–227.
Bonilla, E., Salazar, E., Villasmil, J. J., Villalobos, R., Gonzalez, M., and Davila, J. O. 1984. Copper distribution in the normal human brain. Neurochem. Res. 9:1543–1548.
Duflou, H., Maenhaut, W., and De Reuck, J. 1987. Application of PIXE analysis to the study of the regional distribution of trace elements in normal human brain. Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 13:1–17.
Maenhaut, W., De Reu, L., Van Rinsvelt, H. A., Cafmeyer, J., and Van Espen, P. 1980. Particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis of biological materials: precision, accuracy and application to cancer tissues. Nucl. Instr. and Meth. 168:557–562.
Maenhaut, W., Cornelis, R., Cafmeyer, J., and Mees, L. 1981. Analysis of skeleton remains, ascribed to Mary of Burgundy, and of soil samples, recovered from the central tomb of the Church of Our Lady, Bruges. Bull. Soc. Chim. Belg. 90:1115–1125.
Maenhaut, W., and Raemdonck, H. 1984. Accurate calibration of a Si(Li) detector for PIXE analysis. Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B1:123–136.
Ayers, W. W., and Haymaker, W. 1960. Xanthoma and cholesterol granuloma of the choroid plexus. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 19:280–295.
Russell, W. O., and Bowerman, D. L. 1968. Pineal Body. Pages 608–619,in Minckler, J. (ed.), Pathology of the Nervous System, Vol. 1, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.
Schlenska, G. 1969. Messungen der Oberfläche und der Volumenanteile des Gehirnes menschlicher Erwachsener mit neuen Methoden. Z. Anat. Entwickl. Gesch. 128:47–59.
Lange, W. 1970. Quantitative Untersuchungen am Kleinhirn des Menschen. Verhandlungen der Anatomischen Gesellschaft 126:197–200.
Stephan, H., Frahm, H., and Baron, G. 1981. New and revised data on volumes of brain structures in insectivores and primates. Folia Primatol. 35:1–29.
Stephan, H. 1983. Evolutionary trends in limbic structures. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 7:367–374.
Eggers, R., Haug, H., and Fischer, D. 1984. Preliminary report on macroscopic age changes in the human prosencephalon. A stereologic investigation. J. Hirnforsch. 25:129–139.
Blinkov, S. M., and Glezer, I. I. 1968. The Human Brain in Figures and Tables. Plenum Press, New York.
Snyder, W. S., Cook, M. J., Nasset, E. S., Karhausen, L. R., Howells, G. P., and Tipton, I. H. 1975. Report of the Task Group on Reference Man, Publ. 23, Pergamon Press, Oxford.
Mather, P. M. 1976. Computational Methods of Multivariate Analysis in Physical Geography. Wiley, London.
Van Espen, P. 1984. A program for the processing of analytical data (DPP). Anal. Chim. Acta 165:31–49.
Greiner, A. C., Chan, S. C., and Nicolson, G. A. 1975. Human brain contents of calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc in some neurological pathologies. Clin. Chim. Acta 64:211–213.
Greiner, A. C., Chan, S. C., and Nicolson, G. A. 1975. Determination of calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc content of identical areas in human cerebral hemispheres of normals. Clin. Chim. Acta 61:335–340.
Demmel, U., Höck, A., Feinendegen, L. E., and Sebek, P. 1984. Trace elements in brains of patients with alcohol abuse, endogenous psychosis and schizophrenia. Sci. Tot. Environ. 38:69–77.
Alberts, B., Bray, D., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., and Watson, J. D. 1983. Molecular Biology of the Cell. Garland Publishing, Inc., New York.
Markesbery, W. R., Ehmann, W. D., Alauddin, M., and Hossain, T. I. M. 1984. Brain trace element concentrations in aging. Neurobiol. Aging 5:19–28.
Hamilton, E. I., Minski, M. J., and Cleary, J. J. 1972/1973. The concentration and distribution of some stable elements in healthy human tissues from the United Kingdom. Sci. Tot. Environ. 1:341–374.
Ehmann, W. D., Markesbery, W. R., Hossain, T. I. M., Alauddin, M., and Goodin, D. T. 1982. Trace elements in human brain tissue by INAA. J. Radioanal. Chem. 70:57–65.
Ward, N. I., and Mason, J. A. 1987. Neuron activation analysis techniques for identifying elemental status in Alzheimer's disease. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 113:515–526.
Siesjö, B. K. 1986. Calcium and ischemic brain damage. Eur. Neurol. 25:45–56.
Heinemann, U., Konnerth, A., Pumain, R., and Wadman, W. J. 1986. Extracellular calcium and potassium concentration changes in chronic epileptic brain tissue. Adv. Neurol. 44:641–661.
Trulson, M. E., Arasteh, K., and Ray, D. W. 1986. Effects of elevated calcium on learned helplessness and brain serotonin metabolism in rats. Pharmacol. Biochem. and Behav. 24:445–448.
Nathan, M., Höck, A., Demmel, U., Kasperek, K., and Feinendegen, L. E. 1982. Elements in the human pineal body. J. Radional. Chem. 70:209–218.
Collard, M., and Collard, P. 1973. Etude radiologique, microradiographique et anatomique des calcifications intra-craniennes considerées comme “normales” en radiodiagnostic. J. Belge Radiol. 56:291–296.
Krstić, R. 1976. A combined scanning and transmission electron microscopic study and electron probe microanalysis of human pineal acervuli. Cell Tiss. Res. 174:129–137.
Michotte, Y., Lowenthal, A., Knaepen, L., Collard, M., and Massart, D. L. 1977. A morphological and chemical study of calcification of the pineal gland. J. Neurol. 215:209–219.
Hurley, L. S., Woolley, D. E., Rosenthal, F., and Timiras, P. S. 1963. Influence of manganese on susceptibility of rats to convulsions. Am. J. Physiol. 204:493–496.
Bernheimer, H., Birkmayer, W., Hornykiewicz, O., Jellinger, K., and Seitelberger, F. 1973. Brain dopamine and the syndromes of Parkinson and Huntington. Clinical, morphological and neurochemical correlations. J. Neurol. Sci. 20:415–455.
Bonilla, E., and Diez-Ewald, M. 1974. Effect of L-dopa on brain concentration of dopamine and homovanillic acid in rats after chronic manganese chloride administration. J. Neurochem. 22:297–299.
Bonilla, E., Levine, S., and De Salazar, E. 1978. Intoxicación crónica con manganeso. Acta Cient. Venezolana 29:332–337.
Yamada, M., Ohno, S., Okayasu, I., Okeda, R., Hatakeyama, S., Watanabe, H., Ushio, K., and Tsukagoshi, H. 1986. Chronic manganese poisoning: a neuropathological study with determination of manganese distribution in the brain. Acta Neuropathol. 70:273–278.
Leibel, R. L., Greenfield, D. B., and Pollitt, E. 1979. Iron deficiency: behavior and brain biochemistry. Pages 383–439,in Winick, M. (ed.), Nutrition Pre- and Postnatal Development, Plenum Press, New York.
Pollitt, E., Viteri, F., Saco-Pollitt, C., and Leibel, R. L. 1982. Behavioral effects of iron deficiency anemia in children. Pages 195–208,in Pollitt, E., and Leibel, R. L. (eds.), Iron Deficiency: Brain Biochemistry and Behavior, Raven Press, New York.
Oski, F. A., Honig, A. S., Helu, B., and Howanitz, P. 1983. Effect of iron therapy on behavior performance in nonanemic, iron-deficient infants. Pediatr. 71:877–880.
Tucker, D. M., Swenson, R. A., and Sandstead, H. H. 1983. Neuropsychological effects of iron deficiency. Pages 269–291,in Dreosti, I. E., and Smith, R. M. (eds.), Neurobiology of the Trace Elements, Vol. 1, Humana Press, Clifton.
Walter, T., Kovalskys, J., and Stekel, A. 1983. Effect of mild iron deficiency on infant mental development scores. J. Pediatr. 102:519–522.
Yehuda, S., Youdim, M. E. H., and Mostofsky, D. I. 1986. Brain iron-deficiency causes reduced learning capacity in rats. Pharmacol. Biochem. and Behav. 25:141–144.
Youdim, M. B. H., and Ben-Shachar, D. 1987. Minimal brain damage induced by early iron deficiency: modified dopaminergic neurotransmission. Israel. J. Med. Sci. 23:19–25.
Youdim, M. B. H., Yehuda, S., Ben-Shachar, D., and Ashkenazi, R. 1982. Behavioral and brain biochemical changes in iron-deficient rats: the involvement of iron in dopamine receptor function. Pages 39–56,in Pollitt, E., and Leibel, R. L. (eds.), Iron Deficiency: Brain Biochemistry and Behavior, Raven Press, New York.
Prohaska, J. R. 1987. Functions of trace elements in brain metabolism. Physiol. Rev. 67:858–901.
Völkl, A., Berlet, H., and Ule, G. 1974. Trace elements (Cu, Fe, Mg, Zn) of the brain during childhood. Neuropädiatrie 5:236–242.
Harrison, W. W., Netsky, M. G., and Brown, M. D. 1968. Trace elements in human brain: copper, zinc, iron, and magnesium. Clin. Chim. Acta 21:55–60.
Henke, G., Möllmann, H., and Alfes, H. 1971. Vergleichende Untersuchungen über die Konzentration einiger Spurenelemente in menschlichen Hirnarealen durch Neutronenaktivierungsanalyse. Z. Neurol. 199:283–294.
Bennetts, H. W., and Chapman, F. E. 1937. Copper deficiency in sheep in Western Australia: A preliminary account of the aetiology of enzootic ataxia of lambs and an anaemia of ewes. Aust. Vet. J. 13:138–149.
Rogers, J. M., Keen, C. L., and Hurley, L. S. 1985. Zinc, copper, and manganese deficiencies in prenatal and neonatal development, with special reference to the central nervous system. Pages 3–34,in Gabay, S., Harris, J., and Ho, B. T. (eds.). Metal Ions in Neurology and Psychiatry, A. R. Liss, Inc., New York.
Everson, G. J., Schrader, R. E., and Wang, T. I. 1968. Chemical and morphological changes in the brains of copper-deficient guinea pigs. J. Nutr. 96:115–125.
Zimmerman, A. W., Matthieu, J. M., Quarles, R. H., Brady, R. O., and Hsu, J. M. 1976. Hypomyelination in copper deficient rats. Arch. Neurol. 33:111–119.
Morgan, R. F., and O'Dell, B. L. 1977. Effect of copper deficiency on the concentrations of catecholamines and related enzyme activities in the rat brain. J. Neurochem. 28:207–213.
Scheinberg, I. H., and Sternlieb, I. 1976. Copper toxicity and Wilson's disease. Pages 415–438,in Prasad, A. S. (ed.), Trace Elements in Human Health and Disease, Vol. 1, Zinc and Copper, Academic Press, Inc., New York.
Szerdahelyi, P., and Kása, P. 1986. Histochemical demonstration of copper in normal rat brain and spinal cord. Histochem. 85:341–347.
Smeyers-Verbeke, J., Defrise-Gussenhoven, E., Ebinger, G., Lowenthal, A., and Massart, D. L. 1974. Distribution of Cu and Zn in human brain tissue. Clin. Chim. Acta 51:309–314.
Sandstead, H. H. 1985. Zinc: essentiality for brain development and function. Nutr. Rev. 43:129–137.
Johnson, R. C., and Shah, S. N. 1987. Effect of feeding zinc deficient diet and restricted food intake during early weaning period on rat brain development: myelin and synaptosome content and lipid composition. Biochem. Arch. 3:77–84.
Caldwell, D. F., Oberleas, D., and Prasad, A. S. 1976. Psychobiological changes in zinc deficiency. Pages 311–325,in Prasad, A. S. (ed.), Trace Elements in Human Health and Disease, Vol. 1, Zinc and Copper, Academic Press, Inc., New York.
Halas, E. S., Rowe, M. C., Johnson, O. R., McKenzie, J. M., and Sandstead, H. H. 1976. Effects of intrauterine zinc deficiency on subsequent behavior. Pages 327–343,in Prasad, A. S. (ed.), Trace Elements in Human Health and Disease, Vol. 1, Zinc and Copper, Academic Press, Inc., New York.
Henkin, R. I., Patten, B. M., Re, P. K., and Bronzert, D. A. 1975. A syndrome of acute zinc loss. Arch. Neurol. 32:745–751.
Crawford, I. L. 1983. Zinc and the hippocampus. Pages 163–211,in Dreosti, I. E., and Smith, R. M. (eds.), Neurobiology of the Trace Elements, Vol. 1, Humana Press, Clifton.
Smeyers-Verbeke, J., Michotte, Y., Pelsmaeckers, J., Lowenthal, A., Massart, D. L., Dekegel, D., and Karcher, D. 1975. The chemical composition of idiopathic nonarteriosclerotic cerebral calcifications. Neurol. 25:48–57.
Danscher, G., Fjerdingstad, E. J., Fjerdingstad, E., and Fredens, K. 1976. Heavy metal content in subdivisions of the rat hippocampus (zinc, lead and copper). Brain Res. 112:442–446.
Klitenick, M. A., Frederickson, C. J., and Manton, W. I. 1983. Acid-vapor decomposition for determination of zinc in brain tissue by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Anal. Chem. 55:921–923.
Halas, E. S., and Kawamoto, J. C. 1984. Correlated behavioral and hippocampal effects due to perinatal zinc deprivation. Pages 91–107,in Frederickson, C. J., Howell, G. A., and Kasarskis, E. J. (eds.), The Neurobiology of Zinc Part B: Deficiency, Toxicity, and Pathology, A. R. Liss, Inc., New York.
Sourkes, T. L. 1985. Role of zinc in neuroendocrinological processes. Pages 199–203,in Gabay, S., Harris, J., and Ho, B. T. (eds.), Metal Ions in Neurology and Psychiatry, A. R. Liss, Inc., New York.
DeMarchena, O., Guarnieri, M., and McKhann, G. 1974. Glutathione peroxidase levels in brain. J. Neurochem. 22:773–776.
Prohaska, J. R. 1983. Neurochemical aspects of selenium. Pages 245–268,in Dreosti, I. E., and Smith, R. M., (eds.), Neurobiology of the Trace Elements, Vol. 1, Humana Press, Clifton.
Brannan, T. S., Maker, H. S., Weiss, C., and Cohen, G. 1980. Regional distribution of glutathione peroxidase in the adult rat brain. J. Neurochem. 35:1013–1014.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Duflou, H., Maenhaut, W. & De Reuck, J. Regional distribution of potassium, calcium, and six trace elements in normal human brain. Neurochem Res 14, 1099–1112 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965616
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965616