Multi-Elemental Analysis of Human Optic Chiasm—A New Perspective to Reveal the Pathomechanism of Nerve Fibers’ Degeneration

Jacek Baj, Alicja Forma, Beata Kowalska, Grzegorz Teresiński, Grzegorz Buszewicz, Dariusz Majerek, Wojciech Flieger, Ryszard Maciejewski, Kaja Karakuła, Michał Flieger, Marcin Czeczelewski, Paweł Kędzierawski and Jolanta Flieger
Additional contact information
Jacek Baj: Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Alicja Forma: Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Beata Kowalska: Department of Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal, Lublin University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Grzegorz Teresiński: Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Grzegorz Buszewicz: Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Dariusz Majerek: Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Wojciech Flieger: Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Ryszard Maciejewski: Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Kaja Karakuła: Chair and I Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-439 Lublin, Poland
Michał Flieger: Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Marcin Czeczelewski: Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Paweł Kędzierawski: Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Jolanta Flieger: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: The effect of metals on the functioning of the human eye is multifactorial and includes enzyme activity modulation, trace metal metabolic pathways changes, and cytotoxic activity. Functional dysfunctions appear mostly as a result of the accumulation of toxic xenobiotic metals or disturbances of micronutrients’ homeostasis. So far, the affinity of selected metals to eye tissues, i.e., the cornea, choroid, lens, and anterior chamber fluid, has been most studied. However, it is known that many eye symptoms are related to damage to the optic nerve. In order to fill this gap, the aim of the study is to perform a multi-element analysis of tissue collected postmortem from optic chiasm and optic nerves. A total of 178 samples from 107 subjects were tested. The concentrations of 51 elements were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after the wet-mineralization step. In terms of elemental composition, the optic chiasm is dominated by two trace elements, i.e., iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), besides macro-elements Ca, K, Na, P, and Mg. The subjects formed a homogeneous cluster (over 70% subjects) with the highest accumulation of aluminum (Al). The remaining two departing clusters were characterized by an increased content of most of the elements, including toxic elements such as bismuth (Bi), uranium (U), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd). Changes in elemental composition with age were analyzed statistically for the selected groups, i.e., females, males, and subjects with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and without AUD. A tendency of women to lose Se, Cu, Zn, Fe with age was observed, and a disturbed Ca/Mg, Na/K ratio in subjects with AUD. Although the observed trends were not statistically significant, they shed new light on the risks and possible pathologies associated with metal neurotoxicity in the visual tract.

Keywords: trace elements; optic chiasm; optic nerve; alcohol use disorder (AUD); ICP-MS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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