Analysis of neuronal iron deposits in Parkinson's disease brain tissue by synchrotron x-ray spectromicroscopy.

Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology : Organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)
Jake BrooksJoanna Collingwood

Abstract

Neuromelanin-pigmented neurons, which are highly susceptible to neurodegeneration in the Parkinson's disease substantia nigra, harbour elevated iron levels in the diseased state. Whilst it is widely believed that neuronal iron is stored in an inert, ferric form, perturbations to normal metal homeostasis could potentially generate more reactive forms of iron capable of stimulating toxicity and cell death. However, non-disruptive analysis of brain metals is inherently challenging, since use of stains or chemical fixatives, for example, can significantly influence metal ion distributions and/or concentrations in tissues. The aim of this study was to apply synchrotron soft x-ray spectromicroscopy to the characterisation of iron deposits and their local environment within neuromelanin-containing neurons of Parkinson's disease substantia nigra. Soft x-ray spectromicroscopy was applied in the form of Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) to analyse resin-embedded tissue, without requirement for chemically disruptive processing or staining. Measurements were performed at the oxygen and iron K-edges in order to characterise both organic and inorganic components of anatomical tissue using a single label-free method. STXM revealed...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 11, 2021·Science Advances·James EverettNeil D Telling

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