[Zinc concentration in the central nervous system in a case of multiple sclerosis--comparison with other neurological...

The possible role of trace elements in a pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) on degenerative and demyelinating diseases has been suggested. Simultaneous measurements of Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) concentration in CNS were undertaken by neutron activation analysis in CNS tissues: a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS), five patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), five with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD), and five with cerebral infarction (CVD) in non-invasive area of CNS as control. Although Zn and Fe concentration were present in white matter and gray matter of CNS in each disease, 1) Zn concentration showed no special pattern in gray matter among four diseases, but decreased more in white matter of MS and ALS than that of CVD (p less than 0.05); 2) Fe concentration in gray matter of SCD increased more than that in CVD (p less than 0.05), but Fe concentration in white matter of CVD was increased more than that of ALS (p less than 0.05); 3) Fe concentration of CNS in a patient with MS was not notable except for high Fe concentration in caudate nucleus and globus pallidus. The demyelinated pathological area in CNS of MS showed a decrease in Zn level but no change in Fe level. These results indicate that low Zn concentration in CNS tissues of MS seemed to be responsible for CNS demyelination, but not for undernutrition due to poor conditions of a patient with MS. It seems that Zn might be one pathogenetic factor of MS, but the action of Fe in MS can not be ruled out.