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Anatomical Regional Differences in Selenium Levels in the Human Brain

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Abstract

The role of selenium in human brain physiology, as well as in aging and neurodegenerative processes, remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish the “normal” (reference) levels for selenium in the human brain, as well as anatomical regional differences and age-related changes. Using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after sample microwave-assisted acid digestion, selenium levels were measured in 14 different areas of the brain of adult individuals (n = 42; 71 ± 12, range 50–101 years old) without a known history of neurodegenerative, neurological, or psychiatric disorders. In the whole data set (n = 588; 42 individuals × 14 brain areas), selenium levels ranged from 552 to 1435 ng/g, with a mean ± SD content of 959 ± 178 ng/g (dry weight basis). Selenium distribution across the different brain areas was heterogeneous, with the highest levels in the putamen, parietal inferior lobule, and occipital cortex and the lowest expression in the medulla and cerebellum. Selenium levels were unchanged with aging. Compared with the age-matched control group, significantly increased levels of selenium were found in the globus pallidus, superior temporal gyrus, and frontal cortex of Parkinson’s disease (n = 1) and Alzheimer’s disease (n = 2) patients. This study provides new data on the anatomical regional differences in selenium levels in the human brain, which will aid future interpretation of studies examining brain tissue affected by neurodegenerative (and other) brain diseases.

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Acknowledgments

This work received financial support from the Universidade do Porto and Santander Totta through the project “TRAIN: Trace elements in human brain: age-related changes and anatomic region specific differences” (PP_IJUP 2011 342). This work also received financial support from the European Union (FEDER funds through COMPETE) and national funds (FCT, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) through project Pest-C/EQB/LA0006/2013. The authors thank all financing sources.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Porto University, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal

    Patrícia Ramos & Agostinho Almeida

  2. National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, 4050-167, Porto, Portugal

    Agostinho Santos, Nair Rosas Pinto, Ricardo Mendes & Teresa Magalhães

  3. CENCIFOR—Forensic Science Center, Largo da Sé Nova, s/n, 3000-213, Coimbra, Portugal

    Agostinho Santos & Teresa Magalhães

  4. Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal

    Agostinho Santos & Teresa Magalhães

  5. School of Health Sciences, Minho University, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal

    Agostinho Santos

  6. Biomedical Sciences Institute Abel Salazar, Porto University, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal

    Teresa Magalhães

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  1. Patrícia Ramos
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Correspondence to Agostinho Almeida.

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Ramos, P., Santos, A., Pinto, N.R. et al. Anatomical Regional Differences in Selenium Levels in the Human Brain. Biol Trace Elem Res 163, 89–96 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0160-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0160-z

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