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Neurometals

Edited by Dr Michael Aschner

Metals have many essential functions in the brain and a large body of evidence supports important roles for altered metal stasis in many brain disorders. Despite this evidence, acceptance of metals as key mediators of brain dysfunction is largely lacking in mainstream biomedicine. The publication of this series on neurometals is a timely recognition of the need to provide focused and highly visible platforms to disseminate the concept of metals in brain function and disease. This is an exciting opportunity to bring neurometals to the forefront of brain research and support our advocacy for metals as key players in all aspects of brain processes, from molecular activity to cognitive function. We hope that this thematic series will provide a node for other researchers across diverse fields to access brain metal research and integrate this into their own programs.


  1. Transport of methylmercury (MeHg) across the blood-brain barrier towards the brain side is well discussed in literature, while ethylmercury (EtHg) and inorganic mercury are not adequately characterized regardi...

    Authors: Hanna Lohren, Julia Bornhorst, Romy Fitkau, Gabriele Pohl, Hans-Joachim Galla and Tanja Schwerdtle
    Citation: BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology 2016 17:63
  2. Manganese (Mn) is an essential heavy metal. However, Mn’s nutritional aspects are paralleled by its role as a neurotoxicant upon excessive exposure. In this review, we covered recent advances in identifying me...

    Authors: Tanara V. Peres, Maria Rosa C. Schettinger, Pan Chen, Fabiano Carvalho, Daiana S. Avila, Aaron B. Bowman and Michael Aschner
    Citation: BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology 2016 17:57
  3. Lead (Pb2+) exposure has been shown to impair presynaptic neurotransmitter release in both in vivo and in vitro model systems. The mechanism by which Pb2+ impairs neurotransmitter release has not been fully eluci...

    Authors: Sara Rose Guariglia, Kirstie H. Stansfield, Jennifer McGlothan and Tomas R. Guilarte
    Citation: BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology 2016 17:56
  4. Metallothioneins (MT) are small proteins, which are crucial for the distribution of heavy and transition metals. Previously, we found in mice that knockout of MT 1 and 2 genes (MTKO) impaired spatial learning ...

    Authors: Ann Petro, Hannah G. Sexton, Caroline Miranda, Anit Rastogi, Jonathan H. Freedman and Edward D. Levin
    Citation: BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology 2016 17:55
  5. All living cells display a rapid molecular response to adverse environmental conditions, and the heat shock protein family reflects one such example. Hence, failing to activate heat shock proteins can impair t...

    Authors: Daiana Silva Avila, Alexandre Benedetto, Catherine Au, Julia Bornhorst and Michael Aschner
    Citation: BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology 2016 17:54