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Article

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

by
Jacek Baj
1,*,
Alicja Forma
2,*,
Beata Kowalska
3,
Grzegorz Teresiński
2,
Grzegorz Buszewicz
2,
Dariusz Majerek
4,
Wojciech Flieger
1,
Ryszard Maciejewski
1,
Kaja Karakuła
5,
Michał Flieger
2,
Marcin Czeczelewski
2,
Paweł Kędzierawski
1 and
Jolanta Flieger
6,*
1
Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
2
Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
3
Department of Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal, Lublin University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
4
Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
5
Chair and I Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-439 Lublin, Poland
6
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4420; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074420
Submission received: 2 March 2022 / Revised: 29 March 2022 / Accepted: 31 March 2022 / Published: 6 April 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vision and Visual Health under the Influence of Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Substances)
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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 trace elements; optic chiasm; optic nerve; alcohol use disorder (AUD); ICP-MS

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MDPI and ACS Style

Baj, J.; Forma, A.; Kowalska, B.; Teresiński, G.; Buszewicz, G.; Majerek, D.; Flieger, W.; Maciejewski, R.; Karakuła, K.; Flieger, M.; et al. Multi-Elemental Analysis of Human Optic Chiasm—A New Perspective to Reveal the Pathomechanism of Nerve Fibers’ Degeneration. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 4420. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074420

AMA Style

Baj J, Forma A, Kowalska B, Teresiński G, Buszewicz G, Majerek D, Flieger W, Maciejewski R, Karakuła K, Flieger M, et al. Multi-Elemental Analysis of Human Optic Chiasm—A New Perspective to Reveal the Pathomechanism of Nerve Fibers’ Degeneration. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(7):4420. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074420

Chicago/Turabian Style

Baj, Jacek, Alicja Forma, Beata Kowalska, Grzegorz Teresiński, Grzegorz Buszewicz, Dariusz Majerek, Wojciech Flieger, Ryszard Maciejewski, Kaja Karakuła, Michał Flieger, and et al. 2022. "Multi-Elemental Analysis of Human Optic Chiasm—A New Perspective to Reveal the Pathomechanism of Nerve Fibers’ Degeneration" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 7: 4420. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074420

APA Style

Baj, J., Forma, A., Kowalska, B., Teresiński, G., Buszewicz, G., Majerek, D., Flieger, W., Maciejewski, R., Karakuła, K., Flieger, M., Czeczelewski, M., Kędzierawski, P., & Flieger, J. (2022). Multi-Elemental Analysis of Human Optic Chiasm—A New Perspective to Reveal the Pathomechanism of Nerve Fibers’ Degeneration. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 4420. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074420

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