A systematic photoelectron spectromicroscopy study is presented of the spatial distribution of a toxic element, aluminium, iron or chromium, in neuron cultures, after exposure to a solution of the element. The study was performed by the X-ray secondary-emission microscopy (XSEM) version of photoelectron spectromicroscopy. The distribution of the elements was investigated with two complementary approaches: digital subtraction imaging and individual X-ray absorption spectra from microscopic areas. The results coherently indicate different localization patterns for different elements, and, in particular, extreme localization of aluminium to a few rare cells identifiable as Purkinje neurons. In the case of iron-exposed specimens, the distribution analysis was extended to naturally present phosphorus, and used to estimate the XSEM sensitivity.
Ivo Furno, Alan Howling, Alexandra Waskow
Anders Meibom, Quentin Thomas Jeangros, Stéphane Laurent Escrig, Arun Aby Paraecattil, Gaëlle Delphine Toullec, Céline Edith Loussert-Fonta
Daniel Kuhn, Peyman Mohajerin Esfahani