Vergleichende Untersuchungen �ber die Konzentration einiger Spurenelemente in menschlichen Hirnarealen durch Neutronenaktivierungsanalyse

Trace element concentration in the human pineal body. Activation analysis of cobalt, iron, rubidium, selenium, zinc, antimony and cesium

100 human pineal bodies (56 male and 44 females) were analyzed by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis for trace concentrations of cobalt, iron, rubidium, selenium, zinc, antimony and cesium. The results indicated that the measured element concentrations are not related to body-surface, age and fresh weight. Moreover, the mean absolute cobalt value from 97 pineal bodies is increased by a factor of 1.43 over the mean absolute concentration value of 257 other areas of the brain. The mean zinc content is found to be 3.7 fold higher than the mean zinc value from 269 other samples of brain. The iron values from various brain areas do not differ from those of the pineal body. Compared to other brain regions pineal selenium is increased and rubidium is decreased. Correlating the different element concentrations to each other, a positive correlation is found for selenium and ribidium, a negative correlation for cobalt and zinc. The present data suggest that the measured trace elements are somehow related to specific roles in the physiology and biochemistry of the pineal body. This is supported by the constancy of element concentration over a wide range of increasing fresh weights of the organ. It is considered that zinc, cobalt and iron are involved as constituents of enzymes in the metabolism of amino acids, peptides and proteins of the pineal body. Moreover the conspicuous high zinc content of this organ may be related to a so far undetected neurotransmitter.

Topographical distribution of arsenic, manganese, and selenium in the normal human brain

The concentrations of arsenic, manganese and selenium per gram wet tissue weight were determined in samples from 24 areas of normal human brain from 5 persons with ages ranging from 15 to 81 years of age. The concentrations of the 3 elements were determined for each sample by means of neutron activation analysis with radiochemical separation. Distinct patterns of distribution were shown for each of the 3 elements. Variations between individuals were found for some but not all brain areas, resulting in coefficients of variation between individuals of about 30% for arsenic, 10% for manganese and 20% for selenium. The results seem to indicate that arsenic is associated with the lipid phase, manganese with the dry matter and selenium with the aqueous phase of brain tissue.

Determination of calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc content of identical areas in human cerebral hemispheres of normals

The distribution of calcium, copper, magnesium and zinc in five anatomical regions of both hemispheres of the human brain were investigated. No asymmetry was observed with the exception of the distribution of copper in the white matter. The concentrations of these elements in the substantia nigra from both sides of the midbrain were also measured.