Nondestructive Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence Imaging of Trace Elements on Methylmercury and Selenium Administered Guinea Pigs

Abstract
The dynamics of the brain distributions of Hg, Zn, Cu and Se in guinea pigs exposed to methylmercury and selenium were examined by X-ray fluorescence imaging utilizing synchrotron radiation. Male Hartley guinea pigs were administered methyl mercury chloride and/or sodium selenite every day for ten days (s.c. 3mg as Hg/kg/day, mole ratio Hg:Se=1:1). Two dimensional distributions of Hg, Zn, Cu and Se in guinea pig brain were observed by nondestructive X-ray fluorescence imaging. Using the