Metals in Brain

Metals in Brain and Their Role in Various Neurodegenerative Diseases 

1 Synapses are the local sites of communication between neurones. 

Early stages of activity-dependent signaling to the nucleus 

Synaptotagmins are yet another family of Ca2+-binding proteins, localized on the membranes of synaptic vesicles, where they seem to be involved in the release of neurotransmitters. While the mechanism by which they are involved in Ca2+-mediated synaptic transmission is unclear, it seems likely that the neurotoxicity of heavy metals such as Pb is due to a higher affinity of synaptotagmins for Pb2+ than for Ca2+. 

On the other hand excessive synaptic release of zinc followed by entry into vulnerable neurons contributes to severe neuronal cell death. This is caused by the sequential activation of Akt and GSK-3beta, which play an important role in directing hippocampal neural precursor cell death. 

---

Lai JCK, Chan AWK, Minski MJ, et al. 1985. Application of instrumental neutron activation analysis to the study of trace metals in brain and metal toxicity. In Gabay S, Harris J, Ho BT, eds. Neurology and neurobiology. Vol. 15. Metal ions in neurology and psychiatry. New York, NY Alan R. Liss, Inc, 323-344. 

The determination of the metal concentration (excess or deficiency) compared to normal tissue, the binding to proteins and the quantitative distribution of metals in brain tissues is of the highest significance for the study and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and is linked to the development of mass spectrometric techniques on biological complex systems. 

---