Manganese, selenium and other trace elements in spinal cord, liver and bone in motor neurone disease.

Trace element levels were measured by neutron activation analysis in spinal cord, liver and bone of 7 control patients dying of non-neurological disease and 15 patients dying of motor neurone disease (MND). The concentration of selenium was significantly elevated in the cervical cord, liver and bone in the MND group. Although spinal cord manganese levels were increased at both the cervical and thoracic levels, the hepatic concentration was reduced in the MND patients. These findings are discussed in relation to current understanding of the pathogenesis of MND.