Quantitative histochemical determination of Na+ and K+ in microscopic samples using carbon furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

Carbon furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used to measure the Na and K content of freeze-dried microscopic tissue samples. This method was sufficiently sensitive to measure pmol amounts of Na and K from tissue weighing 10-60 ng. Within the spatial resolution of the microdissection procedure, ion diffusion that might occur during cryosectioning, freeze-drying, and dissection of the tissue did not seem to be a problem. Data obtained with this methodology were in agreement with previously reported values of the Na and K content of various tissues, thus supporting the usefulness of this quantitative histochemical technique.

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Measurement of strontium in serum, urine, bone, and soft tissues by Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/43.1.121 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 121-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Patrick C D’Haese ◽

Glen F Van Landeghem ◽

Ludwig V Lamberts ◽

Vera A Bekaert ◽

Iris Schrooten ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renal Failure ◽

Chronic Renal Failure ◽

Atomic Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Atomic Absorption ◽

Soft Tissues ◽

Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Triton X

Abstract To study the possible accumulation of Sr in chronic renal failure patients, methods were developed for the determination of the element in serum, urine, bone, and soft tissues by using Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum samples were diluted 1:4 with a Triton X-100–HNO3 mixture, whereas urine samples were diluted 1:20 with HNO3. Bone samples were digested with concentrated HNO3 in stoppered polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®) tubes, whereas soft tissues were dissolved in a tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution in water. For serum and urine we used matrix-matched calibration curves, whereas bone and tissue samples were measured against aqueous calibrators. Atomization was performed from the wall of pyrolytically coated graphite tubes for all of the matrices under study. Both inter- and intraassay CVs were <6% (n = 12, n = 10, respectively), and the recovery of added analyte was close to 100% for all of the biological matrices under study. Detection limits were 1.2 μg/L (serum), 0.3 μg/L (urine), 0.4 μg/g (bone), and 2.2 ng/g (soft tissues), whereas the sensitivity determined by the slope of the calibration curve, i.e., the amount of Sr producing a 0.0044 integrated absorbance change in signal, was 2.4 pg, 2.4 pg, 3.9 pg, and 2.6 pg for these matrices respectively. We conclude that the present methods are precise and accurate and easily applicable for both routine use and research investigations. They will allow us to study the metabolism of the element in chronic renal failure patients and shed some light on the association that was recently noted between increased bone Sr concentrations and the development of osteomalacia in these individuals.

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