Metals in obex and retropharyngeal lymph nodes of Illinois white-tailed deer and their variations associated with CWD status

ABSTRACTPrion proteins (PrPC) are cell membrane glycoproteins that can be found in many cell types, but specially in neurons. Many studies have suggested PrPC‘s participation in metal transport and cellular protection against stress in the central nervous system (CNS). On the other hand PrPSc, the misfolded isoform of PrPC and the pathogenic agent in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), has been associated with brain metal dyshomeostasis in prion diseases. Thus, changes in metal concentration associated with protein misfolding and aggregation have been reported for human and animal prion diseases, as well as for other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. The use of metal concentrations in tissues as surrogate markers for early detection of TSEs has been suggested. Studies on the accumulation of metals in free-ranging white-tailed deer have not been conducted. This study established concentrations of copper, iron, manganese, and magnesium in 2 diagnostic tis...