Neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging of locus ceruleus and substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease
Abstract
We carried out an investigation to identify neuromelanin-containing noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons in the locus ceruleus and substantia nigra pars compacta of healthy volunteers and patients with Parkinson's disease using a newly developed magnetic resonance imaging technique that can demonstrate neuromelanin-related contrast. The high-resolution neuromelanin images obtained by a 3-T scanner revealed high signal areas in the brain stem and these corresponded well with the location of the locus ceruleus and substantia nigra pars compacta in gross specimens. In Parkinson's disease patients, the signal intensity in the locus ceruleus and substantia nigra pars compacta was greatly reduced, suggesting depletion of neuromelanin-containing neurons. We conclude that neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging can be used for direct visualization of the locus ceruleus and substantia nigra pars compacta, and may help in detecting pathological changes in Parkinson's disease and related disorders.
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Neuromelanin loss in the locus coeruleus and substantia nigra, together with the associated loss in the ability to sequester iron, might be a characteristic sign of Parkinson's disease.
“Neuromelanin loss in the locus coeruleus and substantia nigra, together with the associated loss in the ability to sequester iron, might be a characteristic sign of Parkinson’s disease.150,151”
From The role of iron in brain ageing and neurodegenerative disorders (2014) · cites this paper as [150]
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- Authors
- Sasaki, M., Shibata, E., Tohyama, K., Takahashi, J., Otsuka, K., Tsuchiya, K., Takahashi, S., Ehara, S., Terayama, Y., & Sakai, A.
- Affiliations
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Sasaki, Makoto
- Venue
- Neuroreport
- Published
- 2006-07-31
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1215-1218
- ISSN
- 0959-4965 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2086361121
- Cited by
- 496
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 29 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 4.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroreport (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological diseases and metabolism
- Keywords
- neuromelanin, Parkinson's disease, locus coeruleus, substantia nigra pars compacta, noradrenergic neurons, dopaminergic neurons, neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, brainstem, neuronal depletion
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Locus Coeruleus, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Melanins, Middle Aged, Parkinson Disease, Reference Values, Sensitivity and Specificity, Substantia Nigra
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