Distribution patterns of lead in the aortic wall determined by lamma

Responsible for the controversial view on the role of lead in the development of atherosclerotic lesions seems to be the lack of suitable methods to determine relatively low concentrations of lead inhomogeneously associated to various tissue components. The recent development of the laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA) now provides a unique method to precisely determine specific distribution patterns of lead concentrations within substructures of the vascular wall. In contrast to the integrating analysis of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) LAMMA allows a morphologically controlled analysis of the lead content in microsamples (greater than or equal to 1 micron3) with a detection limit of 10(-19) g. Evaluations of specimens of the aortic wall of human autopsy material prepared for LAMMA revealed in the case of a male subject aged 80 years an invariable lead content limited to the adventitia and to the elastic fibers of the media. However, in a female subject aged 35 years a decreasing gradient of lead content was found from the intima to the adventitia including cell nuclei and elastic fibers of the media.