NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF TRACE-ELEMENTS IN MOTOR-NEURON DISEASESPINAL-CORD

Levels of 10 trace elements were analysed in autopsied lumbar spinal c ords of 38 motor neuron disease patients and 22 control subjects using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Statistically significant e levations of iron, selenium and zinc, and depletions of mercury and ce sium were found in the spinal cords of motor neuron disease patients c ompared with control subjects. No significant correlations were found between disease duration, clinical severity or lumbar motor neuron cou nts and iron and selenium levels, suggesting that accumulation of thes e elements occur early as well as late in the disease process and ther efore are not a consequence of end stage pathology. Increased iron in motor neuron disease spinal cord could act to enhance formation of rea ctive oxygen species. Our study supports the free readical hypothesis of neuron degeneration in motor neuron disease. (C) 1995 Academic Pres s Limited.