Biological Trace Element Research

, Volume 12, Issue 1, pp 297–308 | Cite as

The use of PIXE in experimental studies of the physiology of human skin epidermis

  • K. G. Malmqvist
  • B. Forslind
  • K. Themner
  • G. Hyltén
  • T. Grundin
  • G. M. Roomans
Body Status from Trace Elements in Blood, Urine, Skin, and Hair

Abstract

In order to understand the normal and pathological physiologies of the epidermal cells, the simultaneous determination of several elements in the different cellular strata is of crucial importance. In recent years the electron microprobe (EMP) has become an established technique in this field. Its high spatial resolution, in principle, allows measurements of various cell organelles. However, the limited (intrinsic) sensitivity of the EMP represents a serious drawback to the technique. The introduction of the proton microprobe (PMP) has significantly improved the sensitivity, although the ultimate spatial resolution of the PMP is much less than that of the EMP.

When studying the elemental profiles in skin epidermis, it is possible to use skin sections with a thickness of the order of 10 μm, then the spatial resolution of the PMP is equal to or better than that of the EMP since the electrons are scattered to a significant degree in the sample. The characteristics of the two methods have been compared by analysis of parallel duplicate freeze-dried sections of normal human skin. The distributions of the elements P, S, Cl, and K, obtained with the two techniques, were in good agreement. In addition, the PMP provided distributions of the important elements Ca, Fe, and Zn.

In a recently started study, the useful features of the PMP will be used for studying how efficient a barrier the skin is to nickel and chromate ions. A preliminary experiment has been performed by exposing cadaverous skin, not older than 24-h postmortem, to solutions of the two ions. After an 18-h exposure, samples were prepared by shock-freezing and sectioning. The first results from PMP analysis of these samples demonstrate the presence of a nickel and chromium gradient in the outer strata in the epidermis (mainly stratum corneum).

A third experiment deals with the physiology of psoriatic skin. Calcium is an important element in the differentiation. Hence, the higher sensitivity of the PMP has been used in analysis of sections from psoriatic skin epidermis. Preliminary results are presented.

Index Entries

PIXE proton microprobe freeze-dried section skin epidermis nickel chromate psoriasis 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    W. Gebhart, H. Ebner, and E. Erlach,Proc. 6th Eur. Congr. on Electron Microscopy, Jerusalem (1976) 226.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    X. Wei and G. M. Roomans, inX-ray Microanalysis in Biology, M. A. Hayat, ed. Baltimore University Park, 1980, 401.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    M. Lindberg, B. Forslind, and G. M. Roomans,Scanning Electron Microscopy, III, 1983, 1243–1247.Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    B. Gonsior, W. Bishof, B. Raith, A. Stratmann, and H. R. Wilde, inX-ray fluorescence in Medicine, R. Cesareo, ed., Field Education, Italia, Rome, 1982, 125–152.Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    K. G. Malmqvist, L.-E. Carlsson, K. R. Akselsson, and B. Forslind,Scanning Electron Microscopy, IV, 1983, 1815–1825.Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    B. Gonsior, this volume.Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    G. M. Roomans,Scanning Electron Microscopy, II, 1981, 345–356.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    B. Forslind, L. Kunst, K. G. Malmqvist, L.-E. Carlsson, and G. M. Roomans,Histochemistry,82, 425 (1985).PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    D. Heck and E. Rokita,Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res. B3, 259 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    K. Themner and K. G. Malmqvist,Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res. B15, 404 (1986).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    S. T. Boyce and R. G. Ham,J. Invest. Dermatol. 81, suppl. 33s–40s, (1983).Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    H. Hennings, K. A. Holbrook, and S. H. Yuspa,J. Invest. Dermatol. 81, suppl. 50s–55s, (1983).Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    K. G. Malmqvist, L.-E. Carlsson, B. Forslind, G. M. Roomans, and K. R. Akselsson,Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res. B3, 611 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    D. Heck and E. Rokita,IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. NS-30, 1220 (1983).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    F. Watt, G. W. Grime, and J. Takacs,Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res. B3, 599 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    W. F. G. Tucher, S. MacNeil, S. S. Bleechen, and S. Thomlinson,J. Invest. Dermatol. 82, 298 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© The Humana Press Inc 1987

Authors and Affiliations

  • K. G. Malmqvist
    • 1
  • B. Forslind
    • 2
  • K. Themner
    • 1
  • G. Hyltén
    • 1
  • T. Grundin
    • 2
  • G. M. Roomans
    • 3
  1. 1.Dept. of Nuclear PhysicsLund University, Institute of Science and TechnologyLundSweden
  2. 2.Experimental Dermatology Research Group, Dept of Medical BiophysicsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
  3. 3.Dept. of Ultrastructural Research, Wenner-Gren Institute, Biology E4University of StockholmStockholmSweden

Personalised recommendations