Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for 2D mapping of trace elements in soft tissues

Abstract

Metals are not homogeneously distributed in organ tissues. Although most mapping techniques, such as histologic staining methods, have been developed for element imaging on a subcellular level, many suffer from either low precision or poor detection limits. Therefore, small variations in elemental distribution cannot be identified. We have developed a method for two-dimensional mapping of trace elements to identify the influence of metabolic zonation by the liver on trace element distribution.