The distribution of toxic metals in the human retina and optic nerve head: Implications for age-related macular degeneration.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Toxic metals are suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. However, difficulties in detecting the presence of multiple toxic metals within the intact human retina, and in separating primary metal toxicity from the secondary uptake of metals in damaged tissue, have hindered progress in this field. We therefore looked for the presence of several toxic metals in the posterior segment of normal adult eyes using elemental bioimaging.

Methods

Paraffin sections of the posterior segment of the eye from seven tissue donors (age range 54-74 years) to an eye bank were examined for toxic metals in situ using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, a technique that detects multiple elements in tissues, as well as the

SUBMITTER: Pamphlett R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7595417 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature