Position sensitive measurement of trace lithium in the brain with NIK (neutron-induced coincidence method) in suicide

Schoepfer, J.; Gernhäuser, R.; Lichtinger, S.; Stöver, A.; Bendel, M.; Delbridge, C.; Widmann, T.; Winkler, S. und Graw, M. (2021): Position sensitive measurement of trace lithium in the brain with NIK (neutron-induced coincidence method) in suicide. In: Scientific Reports, Bd. 11, Nr. 1, 6823

Abstract

Mood disorder is the leading intrinsic risk factor for suicidal ideation. Questioning any potency of mood-stabilizers, the monovalent cation lithium still holds the throne in medical psychiatric treatment. Furthermore, lithium`s anti-aggressive and suicide-preventive capacity in clinical practice is well established. But little is still known about trace lithium distribution and any associated metabolic effects in the human body. We applied a new technique (neutron-induced coincidence method NIK) utilizing the Li-6(n,alpha)H-3 reaction for the position sensitive, 3D spatially resolved detection of lithium traces in post-mortem human brain tissue in suicide versus control. NIK allowed, for the first time in lithium research, to collect a three dimensional high resolution map of the regional trace lithium content in the non lithium-medicated human brain. The results show an anisotropic distribution of lithium, thus indicating a homeostatic regulation under physiological conditions as a remarkable link to essentiality. In contrast to suicide we could empirically prove significantly higher endogenous lithium concentrations in white compared to gray matter as a general trend in non-suicidal individuals and lower lithium concentrations in emotion-modulating regions in suicide.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Medizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• Sprache: Englisch