PIXE analysis of low concentration aluminum in brain tissues of an Alzheimer's disease patient

Journal Article · Thu Jun 10 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.59261· OSTI ID:21207986

Ishihara, R; Takeuchi, T ^[1]; Hanaichi, T ^[2]; Ektessabi, A M ^[3]

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1. Department of Psychiatry Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550 Japan (Japan)
2. Hanaichi Ultrastructure Research Institute Co. Okazaki, Aichi-prf. 444-2134 (Japan)
3. Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501 (Japan)

An excess accumulation and presence of metal ions may significantly alter a brain cell's normal functions. There have been increasing efforts in recent years to measure and quantify the density and distribution of excessive accumulations of constituent elements (such as Fe, Zn, Cu, and Ca) in the brain, as well as the presence and distribution of contaminating elements (such as Al). This is particularly important in cases of neuropathological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and ALS. The aim of this paper was to measure the Al present in the temporal cortex of the brain of an Alzheimer's disease patient. The specimens were taken from an unfixed autopsy brain which has been preserved for a period of 4 years in the deep freezer at -80 degree sign C. Proton Induced X-ray Emission Spectroscopy was used for the measurement of Al concentration in this brain tissue. A tandem accelerator with 2 MeV of energy was also used. In order to increase the sensitivity of the signals in the low energy region of the spectra, the absorbers were removed. The results show that the peak height depends on the measurement site. However, in certain cases an extremely high concentration of Al was observed in the PIXE spectra, with an intensity higher than those in the other major elements of the brain's matrix element. Samples from tissues affected by the same disease were analyzed using the EDX analyzer. The results are quantitatively in very good agreement with those of the PIXE analysis.

• OSTI ID: 21207986
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 475; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALUMINIUM
BRAIN
COPPER
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
ION MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
IRON
MEV RANGE
MULTI-ELEMENT ANALYSIS
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
PATIENTS
PIXE ANALYSIS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SENSITIVITY
TANDEM ELECTROSTATIC ACCELERATORS
TRACE AMOUNTS
ZINC