Acquisition of an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and Furnace Atomizer

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An atomic absorption spectrophotometer with furnace atomizer is essential for ultra-micro elemental measurements in three different research projects. It will be used to determine metal content (particularly zinc and iron) in hippocampal slices. The objective is to investigate the relationship of tissue metal content to neuronal damage in the brain during exposure to oxidative stress. Another project will use this equipment to measure sodium and potassium concentrations in nanoliter samples of tubular fluid from neonatal rat kidneys. The measurements will be used to assess the role of atrial natriuretic factor in water and electrolyte homeostasis in the immature rat. For the third project, the atomic absorption spectrophotometer will also be used to determine sodium and potassium concentrations in nanoliter samples of renal tubular fluid. The role of neurohumoral factors, particularly dopamine, regulation of sodium excretion in neonatal rats will be examined. The atomic absorption spectrophotometer and graphite furnace atomizer offers the unique capability of measuring the content of various metals and ions in extremely small samples of tissue and fluid at a reasonable cost.