S. Takahashi et al., Determination of the spatial distribution of major elements in the rat brain with X-ray fluorescence analysis, J NEUROSC M, 100(1-2), 2000, pp. 53-62
An energy dispersive X-lay fluorescence analysis was applied for determinin
g the spatial (two-dimensional) distribution of elemental concentrations in
rat brain sections. Freeze-dried brain sections prepared from normal and i
schemic rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion were scanned with a coll
imated X-ray beam (0.18 mm in diameter, 50-kV acceleration voltage). The fl
uorescent K alpha X-lays of P, S, Cl, and K were detectable, so that the tw
o-dimensional distribution of fluorescent X-ray intensities could be determ
ined for these elements. Furthermore, quantitative determination was possib
le for P and K by using the fundamental parameter technique. However, the a
ccurate determination of Na and Ca was difficult, because of the low energy
of K alpha X-ray of Na, and the interference of K-K beta with Ca-K alpha.
The change in elemental concentrations in ischemic tissue, including the de
crease in It concentration and increase in Cl concentration, was demonstrat
ed by this method as a two-dimensional contour map. Since it is possible to
obtain a pictorial representation of the elemental concentration in tissue
sections, this method may be useful to evaluate the ionic changes in injur
ed brain tissue in relation to histological or autoradiographical observati
ons. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All lights reserved.