Several trace elements are present in the human body; the concentrations of which are supposed to be one of the major causes for various disorders. The common sites of trace element deposits include but not limited to brain, liver, kidney, bone and skin. Measurements of trace elements in these sites are important for the diagnosis of diseases that may result due to either excess or deficiency of the elements. The Human brain is one site that demands high levels of metal concentration. These metal levels vary from region to region in the brain, and any abnormal existing of these metals would lead to neurological diseases. In the present study, the feasibility of measuring trace metals; iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the central nervous
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1.1 Importance of iron, copper and zinc in CNS function: (you should add this in the chapters list) Iron (Z=26), copper (Z=29) and zinc (Z=30) belong to the class of transition metals and are found to be playing a prominent role in normal functioning of the CNS. The distribution of these elements is dependent on brain region, subcellular location, age, species, genetic and environmental factors (Prohaska, 1987). These elements are considered as cofactors, catalysts and structural components for many cellular enzymes and proteins in the CNS. They also play roles in the homeostatic, regulatory mechanisms maintaining their concentrations in the CNS (Richardson and Ponka, 1997). They take part in neuronal activities such as neurotransmission, synaptogenesis, neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation and oxygen transport (Hung et al., 2010). Each of these elements has its own unique form, distribution, and function in the CNS and the imbalance of one element ion will disturb the homeostasis of other elements downstream. Metal homeostasis is strictly maintained in cells. Cell functioning gets disrupted due to fall in metal concentration whereas high levels that known as cytotoxicity can …show more content…
Hence, a proper balance needs to be maintained for normal function of the CNS (Emily, Que metals in neurobiology, 2008). Keen et al. (1985) studied the effects of dietary Cu and Zn in male rats. They concluded that dietary Zn affects tissue Cu levels primarily when dietary Cu is deficient, whereas dietary Cu has no effect on tissue Zn. However, both Zn deficiency and Cu deficiency affect tissue Fe levels. Carl et al. (1990) in their study characterized the elemental concentrations in the brain tissues of rats and found an association between epilepsy prone rats and altered tissue trace element concentrations. Carpenter (2001) studied the effects of transition elements on the human nervous system and suggested a relation between elevated levels of these elements in brains of patients with Alzheimer and Parkinson’s diseases. Oladiji (2003) investigated the effects of iron deficiency on the levels of iron, copper and zinc in the brain, liver, kidney, heart and lungs of forty albino rats (Rattus novergicus) and concluded that these elements interact with each other and with other nutrients to such an extent that the margin
1.1 Importance of iron, copper and zinc in CNS function: (you should add this in the chapters list) Iron (Z=26), copper (Z=29) and zinc (Z=30) belong to the class of transition metals and are found to be playing a prominent role in normal functioning of the CNS. The distribution of these elements is dependent on brain region, subcellular location, age, species, genetic and environmental factors (Prohaska, 1987). These elements are considered as cofactors, catalysts and structural components for many cellular enzymes and proteins in the CNS. They also play roles in the homeostatic, regulatory mechanisms maintaining their concentrations in the CNS (Richardson and Ponka, 1997). They take part in neuronal activities such as neurotransmission, synaptogenesis, neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation and oxygen transport (Hung et al., 2010). Each of these elements has its own unique form, distribution, and function in the CNS and the imbalance of one element ion will disturb the homeostasis of other elements downstream. Metal homeostasis is strictly maintained in cells. Cell functioning gets disrupted due to fall in metal concentration whereas high levels that known as cytotoxicity can …show more content…
Hence, a proper balance needs to be maintained for normal function of the CNS (Emily, Que metals in neurobiology, 2008). Keen et al. (1985) studied the effects of dietary Cu and Zn in male rats. They concluded that dietary Zn affects tissue Cu levels primarily when dietary Cu is deficient, whereas dietary Cu has no effect on tissue Zn. However, both Zn deficiency and Cu deficiency affect tissue Fe levels. Carl et al. (1990) in their study characterized the elemental concentrations in the brain tissues of rats and found an association between epilepsy prone rats and altered tissue trace element concentrations. Carpenter (2001) studied the effects of transition elements on the human nervous system and suggested a relation between elevated levels of these elements in brains of patients with Alzheimer and Parkinson’s diseases. Oladiji (2003) investigated the effects of iron deficiency on the levels of iron, copper and zinc in the brain, liver, kidney, heart and lungs of forty albino rats (Rattus novergicus) and concluded that these elements interact with each other and with other nutrients to such an extent that the margin