Histochemical and atomic absorption demonstration of trace metal mobilization in the central nervous system and liver of the rat

Summary Histochemical and atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis of trace metal mobilization caused by the action of ethanol in the central nervous system (CNS) and liver of the rat is described.Histochemically it has been shown that in all neurons examined (motoneurons, pyramidal and Purkinje cells) the trace metals (mainly Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺) are mobilized. Most of the stained materials disappear from the perikaryon of the Purkinje cells, while in both the motoneurons and the pyramidal cells the trace metals are displaced from the perikaryon into the axon and axon hillock. At the same time, some of the glia cells display a high metal content.Quantitative determination of the Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry reveals that after 2 hours ethanol treatment both the Zn²⁺ and the Cu²⁺ levels are decreased in the archicerebellar cortex, while after 4 hours the Zn²⁺ levels are increased in the cerebrum and the spinal cord.The present observations on the histochemical localization and the contents of zinc and copper in different parts of the CNS and liver reveal the important role of the effect of ethanol on the trace metal mobilization.