The striatonigral degenerations. Putaminal pigments and nosology

Three new cases of striato-nigral degeneration (SND) are presented with particular reference to the identification of putaminal pigments. These were studied by histochemical methods, electron microscopy and elemental analysis. Three interrelated parenchymal perikaryal pigments were identified in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBrain (London, England : 1878) Vol. 98; no. 1; p. 101
Main Authors Borit, A, Rubinstein, L J, Urich, H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.01.1975
Subjects
Corpus Striatum - metabolism
Female
Histocytochemistry
Humans
Lipid Metabolism
Male
Melanins - metabolism
Microscopy, Electron
Middle Aged
Parkinson Disease - classification
Parkinson Disease - diagnosis
Parkinson Disease - metabolism
Pigments, Biological - metabolism
Putamen - metabolism
Putamen - ultrastructure
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Summary:Three new cases of striato-nigral degeneration (SND) are presented with particular reference to the identification of putaminal pigments. These were studied by histochemical methods, electron microscopy and elemental analysis. Three interrelated parenchymal perikaryal pigments were identified in the putaminal lesions of all 3 patients: a "haematin" pigment, neuromelanin and lipofuscin. The presence of neuromelanin in the putamen may be due to accumulation of dopamine in the synaptic terminals of the nigro-striatal pathway and its polymerization into pigment. This suggests that the putaminal atrophy is the primary lesion in SND which is a true supranigral form of parkinsonism. Clinically this manifests itself in predominance of rigidity over other parkinsonian symptoms and in a poor, or absent, response to treatment with L-dopa and anticholinergic drugs.
ISSN:0006-8950
DOI:10.1093/brain/98.1.101