No abstract available.
Animals ; Neurons* ; Oxidopamine* ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Immunohistochemistry* ; Neurons* ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra*

Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons from the substantia nigra pars compacta leading to the impairment of motor functions. Recent genetic studies have uncovered several genes involved in inherited forms of the disease. These gene products are likely to be implicated in the biochemical pathways underlying the etiology of sporadic PD. Our review discusses the pathogenetic mechanisms of the mutated genes.
Dopaminergic Neurons ; Genetics ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Parkinson Disease* ; Substantia Nigra

BACKGROUND: The term 'young-onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD)' refers to patients who have developed parkison-ian symptoms or signs between the ages of 21 and 40, and the term 'old onset Parkinson's disease (OOPD)' refers to those with onset after the age of 65. Patients with YOPD may show clinical features different from those with OOPD. METHODS: We compared the clinical features and courses of Parkinson's disease between 27 patients with YOPD and 31 patients with OOPD. RESULTS: YOPD more frequently affected male patients. Patients with YOPD more frequently had family members also affected by Parkinson's disease. Rest tremor was the most frequent initial symptom in both YOPD and OOPD. Other initial symptoms included akinesia-rigidity and dystonia, but occurred more frequently in patients with YOPD than OOPD. Patients with YOPD developed levodopa induced motor complications more frequent-ly but had much less hallucinations and delusions. The disease progression of YOPD was slower than the progression of OOPD. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with YOPD may develop clinical features and courses different from those of OOPD because they have neuronal degeneration relatively confined to the substantia nigra with changes in the central pharma-cokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
Delusions ; Disease Progression ; Dystonia ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Male ; Neurons ; Parkinson Disease* ; Substantia Nigra ; Tremor

Recently the reports of the autologous grafting of adrenal medullary tissue into the brain of parkinsonian patient have given the wide attention to the neurosurgeons as well as other clinicians, because the current therapeutic modalities are either imperfect or palliative. Although neural grafting of adrenal medullary tissue of fetal brain which can supply the dopamine seems to be a ideal form of treatment theoretically, many problems must be overcome for this approach to be a routine procedure. Authors made the rat parkinsonian model by destroying the substantia nigra and nigrostriatal fiber selectively with 6-OHDA. And abnormal behaviors and growth patterns were observed and studied using rotometry, T-maze and metabolic cage. With the results, some parameters which would be useful in further experiments could be established.
Animals ; Brain ; Dopamine ; Humans ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra ; Transplants

Hallervorden-Spatz disease is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder of mainly early childhood which is characterized by pigmentary degeneration of the globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and red nucleus. Clinically it manifests various symptoms and signs of extrapyramidal and pyramidal involvement. Authors report a 28-year-old female patient with suspected Hallervorden-Spatz disease in the aspects of clinical and MRI findings suggesting metal deposition in the globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and red nucleus on both side.
Adult ; Female ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration* ; Red Nucleus ; Substantia Nigra

BACKGROUND: Many recent studies based on non-linearity have been performed to quantify the complex behavior of the brain in order to understand the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: We calculated the Fractal dimension (FD) and Lyapunov exponent (L1), the non-linear biologic signals, by digital EEG using 'CHASIM' program, non-linear times series signal simulator and then compared the UPDRS score with the degree of atrophy in the substantia nigra upon brain MRI and EEG data respectively. All subjects (N=20) showed definite hemiparkinsonism. RESULTS: Upon EEG analysis, a strong positive correlation was noted between FD of the left hemispheric electrodes (FP1,F3,T3,T5) and the UPDRS scores in left-sided symptomatic patients. Additionally, positive correlations were noted between the ipsilateral MRI index ratio in the right and left-sided symptomatic patients and respective UPDRS scores. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that thalamocortical drive is reduced in the contralateral hemisphere to parkinsonian symptoms and thalamocortical or corticothalamic glutaminergic projection in the ipsilateral hemisphere is increased in the early stage of Parkinson's disease. Additionally, hemiparkinsonim may primarilly cause anatomic and functional changes in the contralateral hemisphere and a compensatory effect in the ipsilateral hemisphere at the same time. We suggest that disease duration may be a compensating factor and of which require further investigation. We hope that our results will aid the understanding of the specific patterns of dysfunction and treatment effects by non-linear EEG measures and anatomic changes of the substantia nigra through continuous follow up of the patients. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(3):232~238, 2001)
Atrophy ; Brain ; Electrodes ; Electroencephalography* ; Fractals ; Hope ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Parkinson Disease* ; Substantia Nigra

To determine whether toxic and trace elements may play -a role as ail etiologic factor in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), we measured the levels of toxic and trace elements in the hair from 56 PD patients and 50 normal controls with atomic absorption spectrophotometer In the hair of PD, the zinc concentration showed a significantly lower amount (p=O. 0001) and the concentrations of lead, cad mium, and copper showed a significantly larger amount (Pb, Cd, Cu : p=0.0012, 0. 0444, 0.0286) compared with those of the normal controls. There were no significant differences between the two groups in concentrations of mercury, manganese, iron and aluminum. The levels of each of the toxic and trace elements measured had no significant relationship with Hoehn-Yahr stage, age or the duration of disease. Our data was inconsistent with previous results that analysed the levels of toxic and trace elements in substantia nigra of parkinsonian patients. Due to significant differences in the levels of zinc, copper, lead and cadmium between PD and normal control group, there may be a relationship between PD and those toxic and trace elements. Hair analysis can be so easily applied in clinical practice that a large scale study should be attempted to further evaluate the relationship between trace elements and PD.
Absorption ; Aluminum ; Cadmium ; Copper ; Hair* ; Humans ; Iron ; Manganese ; Parkinson Disease* ; Substantia Nigra ; Trace Elements ; Zinc

BACKGROUND: Apomorphine-induced rotational behavior of unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA) lesioned rat is widely used to develop anti-Parkinsonian treatments including drugs, neuroprotective therapy, and neural graft. Time course of changes in rotational behavior after lesioning, however, has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to observe the chronological changes in the rotational response and to find the optimal period when this model is used for investigation of various therapies. METHODS: 6-OHDA was stereotaxically delivered to the unilateral substantia nigra in 13 rats. Rotational responses to apomorphine administrations were counted in the rotomotor on 2, 4, 8, 12, and 14 weeks after lesioning. RESULTS: The total turns for two hours increased continuously up to eight weeks, and then plateaued. CONCLUSIONS: Apomorphine-induced rotations increase until eight weeks after 6-OHDA lesioning. Therefore, this Parkinsonian model should be used at least eight weeks after lesioning. Even though priming was not excluded as an explanation in the experiment, we reason that progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons may explain the chronological changes in rotational behavior.
Animals ; Apomorphine* ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Oxidopamine* ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra ; Transplants

Although secondary delayed neuronal death has been considered as a therapeutic target to minimize brain damage induced by several injuries, delayed neuronal death does not occur always. In this study, we investigated possible mechanisms that prevent delayed neuronal death in the ATP-injected substantia nigra (SN) and cortex, where delayed neuronal death does not occur. In both the SN and cortex, ATP rapidly induced death of the neurons and astrocytes in the injection core area within 3 h, and the astrocytes in the penumbra region became hypertropic and rapidly surrounded the damaged areas. It was observed that the neurons survived for up to 1-3 months in the area where the astrocytes became hypertropic. The damaged areas of astrocytes gradually reduced at 3 days, 7 days, and 1-3 months. Astrocyte proliferation was detectable at 3-7 days, and vimentin was expressed in astrocytes that surrounded and/or protruded into the damaged sites. The NeuN-positive cells also reappeared in the injury sites where astrocytes reappeared. Taken together, these results suggest that astroycte survival and/or gliosis in the injured brain may be critical for neuronal survival and may prevent delayed neuronal death in the injured brain.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Astrocytes ; Brain Injuries ; Brain* ; Gliosis ; Neurons* ; Substantia Nigra ; Vimentin