Metallomic Aspects of Stroke and Recovery: ICP-MS Study with Chemometric Analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Stroke is a major cause of death and disability globally.
• The role of elemental imbalance in stroke pathogenesis is not fully understood.
• Elemental disturbances may contribute to neuronal injury via excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate regional elemental concentration changes in the subacute phase of ischemic stroke.
• To analyze the relationship between specific elements and stroke in a rat model.
• To explore the potential of elemental profiling for stroke diagnosis and prognosis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model for ischemic stroke.
• Collected brain tissues (cortex, striatum, hippocampus) seven days post-MCAO or sham surgery.
• Measured 15 elements using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and analyzed data with t-tests, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA).

Main Results:

• Significant alterations in calcium (Ca) concentrations were observed, while sodium (Na) levels remained largely unaffected.
• Principal component analysis revealed that manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and phosphorus (P) were key contributors to stroke-related variance.
• Cluster analysis successfully differentiated between MCAO and sham groups, highlighting region-specific elemental responses.

Conclusions:

• Ischemic stroke induces long-lasting and region-dependent elemental imbalances in the brain.
• Elemental profiling demonstrates potential as a valuable tool for understanding stroke.
• Further research into peripheral elemental changes (e.g., in blood serum) could yield significant diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.