Lewy pathology is not the first sign of degeneration in vulnerable neurons in Parkinson disease.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether evidence of neuronal dysfunction or demise preceded deposition of Lewy pathology in vulnerable neurons in Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods

We examined the extent of nigral dysfunction and degeneration among 63 normal, incidental Lewy body disease (ILBD), and PD cases based on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity and neuron densities, respectively. The relationship between these markers and Lewy pathology (LP) burden in the substantia nigra (SN) and Braak PD stage was assessed.

Results

Compared with normal subjects, ILBD cases displayed a significantly higher percentage of TH-negative cells and lower neuronal densities in the SN as early as Braak PD stages 1 and 2, before LP deposition in the nigrostriatal system. ILBD nigral neuron

SUBMITTER: Milber JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3578379 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature