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Increased Nigral Iron Content and Alterations in Other Metal Ions Occurring in Brain in Parkinson's Disease
Author(s) -
Dexter D. T.,
Wells F. R.,
Lee A. J.,
Agid F.,
Agid Y.,
Jenner P.,
Marsden C. D.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1989.tb07264.x
Subject(s) - substantia nigra , putamen , globus pallidus , parkinson's disease , chemistry , caudate nucleus , medicine , endocrinology , manganese , basal ganglia , central nervous system , disease , organic chemistry
Levels of iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and lead were measured by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy in parkinsonian and age‐matched control brain tissue. There was 31‐35% increase in the total iron content of the parkinsonian substantia nigra when compared to control tissue. In contrast, in the globus pallidus total iron levels were decreased by 29% in Parkinson's disease. There was no change in the total iron levels in any other region of the parkinsonian brain. Total copper levels were reduced by 34–45% in the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease; no difference was found in the other brain areas examined. Zinc levels were increased in substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease by 50–54%, and the zinc content of the caudate nucleus and lateral putamen was also raised by 18–35%. Levels of manganese and lead were unchanged in all areas of the parkinsonian brain studied when compared to control brains, except for a small decrease (20%) in manganese content of the medial putamen. Increased levels of total iron in the substantia nigra may cause the excessive formation of toxic oxygen radicals, leading to dopamine cell death.