Brain mapping by FTIR microspectroscopy

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Abstract
Spatial resolution achieved with a state-of-the-art scanning molecular FT-IR microspectrometer allows excellent spectra to be obtained from relatively small areas of 8 micrometers thick section of brain tissue. Concentration mapping is achieved by picking absorbances or baseline-corrected absorbances of select peaks for each scan obtained at a particular x,y coordinate of the tissue section. Scanning was done in the transmission mode and a programmable microscope stage was used to position the specimen in the beam between scans. The chemical selectivity of the microspectroscopic technique allowed us to superimpose chemical data onto the spatially-defined structures, particularly myelin, in the brain. Since the chemical information is both qualitative and semiquantitative the heterogeneous distribution is revealed. Previously spectroscopic analysis was performed on myelin fractions obtained from brain homogenates. This did not allows observation of localized concentration differences, as is now the case. In addition to spectra, maps of selected key wavelength responses presented from frozen sections of normal brains, result in chemically selective distribution profiles in the gray matter, white matter and basal ganglia.

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