Age-related changes in the concentrations of major and trade elements in the brain of rats and mice

Age-related changes in the concentrations of constituent elements in the br ains of rats and mice 1 wk to 24 mo old were determined with inductively co upled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-atom ic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Seventeen elements could be determined with reasonable accuracy and reproducibility. They were P, K, Na, Mg, Ca, F e, Zn, Cu, Rb, Al, Mn, Sr, Mo, Co, Pb, Cs, and Cd in order of concentration s in the adult rat brains. In these elements, six major elements (P, K, Na, Fe, Mg, Ca) were determined with ICP-AES and the others with ICP-MS. The c oncentrations of each element and the pattern of age-related changes were s imilar between the rat and mouse brains. The elements of which concentratio ns decreased with aging were K and Rb. On the other hand, the concentration s of some metal elements, including Fe, Cu, Sr, and Co, appeared to increas e with growth and aging. The concentrations of other elements were relative ly constant throughout the age examined.