X-Ray Microprobe Analysis of Frozen Hydrated Cryosections for Study of Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Abstract

Knowledge of elemental distribution is of great importance to understanding normal and abnormal function of the nervous system. Because elements of biological interest are easily displaced using conventional preparative methods, low temperature preparative methods are necessary to preserve elemental distribution. We have applied our methods for x-ray microprobe analysis of frozen hydrated cryosections to investigations of the central and peripheral nervous system in invertebrate and vertebrate animals. We have applied these methods to several areas of neuroscience including neuroanatomy/neurochemistry neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neurotoxicology, and neuropathology.X-ray microprobe analysis is not a substitute for electrophysiological measurements. Unfortunately there is often confusion between what is measured by the electron probe and between what is measured with microelectrodes. The information we obtain from x-ray microprobe analysis (XMPA) provides a measure of elemental mass fraction usually on the basis of dry mass, although using frozen hydrated techniques provides additional information by relating elemental mass to wet weight mass.