Light element abundance in brain nuclei using energy dispersive x-ray analysis and atomic absorption spectrophotometry

A comparative study of light element (congruent to ion) abundance in isolated brain nuclei, using atomic absorption (AA) spectrophotometry and the scanning electron microscope mode of energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA), demonstrated similar statistical trends in the abundance of Na, Mg, and K at 0 time and at 4 min of total brain ischemia. The obtained correlation strengthens the validity of the comparison of quantitative and semi-quantitative procedures. The EDXA technique represents a new approach to the study of ionic shifts in brain ischemia that may prove useful in other areas of brain research as well.