Comparison of Trace Element Concentration in Bone and Intervertebral Disc Tissue by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Techniques

Background: Trace element (TE) analysis in human tissue has the dual purpose of assessing environmental pollution and metabolism. In literature, bone TE analysis is common, but studies in intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue are lacking. The aim of the study was evaluation of the difference of TE concentration in intervertebral disc and bone in patients with degenerative changes. The comparison of the tissues differing in metabolism, blood perfusion, or separateness from adjoining tissues but playing similar biomechanical role and presenting some common morphological traits may shed new light on metabolism nuances, degenerative process, as well as accumulation potential of IVD in respect to bone.

Methods: In the study, we analyzed two types of samples: intervertebral disc (n =30, from 22 patients operated due to degenerative disc disease) and femoral bone (n =26, separately femoral head and neck, from 26 patients, acquired in total hip arthroplasty procedure in course of idiopathic osteoarthritis of the hip joint). In the samples we analyzed, with atomic absorption spectrometry, the concentrations of Pb, Ni, Mo, Cu, Mg, and Zn.

Results: The element concentrations identified in bone are comparable to those presented in the literature. In the case of Pb, Ni, Mo, Mg, and Zn, the concentration in the bone was 2 to 25.8 times higher than that observed in the disc. Only the Cu concentration was higher in disc tissue than in bone. In disc tissue, fewer samples had TE concentrations below the detection threshold. We found significant differences in TE profiles in the compared tissues.

Conclusions: The results show that the disc could serve as a more stable compartment for evaluating TE concentration, especially for TEs that are environmentally related.