Cited by 537Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsNeurological diseases and metabolismTrace Elements in Health

Iron and aluminum increase in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease: an X-ray microanalysis

Hirsch, E. C., Brandel, J.‐P., Galle, P., Javoy‐Agid, F., Agid, Y.·1991·Journal of Neurochemistry

Abstract

The levels of different elements were studied by x-ray microanalysis in the substantia nigra and the central gray substance of patients with Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and matched controls. In control brains, only iron, potassium, silicum, sodium, sulfur, and zinc were within the limit of detection of the technique. The abundance of each element was different, but their respective concentrations in the two brain regions were similar, except for sulfur levels which were higher on neuromelanin aggregates in the substantia nigra than in nigral regions lacking neuromelanin, and in the central gray substance. In Parkinson's disease, but not in progressive supranuclear palsy, nigral iron levels increased in regions devoid of neuromelanin and decreased on neuromelanin aggregates, but were unchanged in the central gray substance, when compared to control values. Concentrations of the other elements in the central gray substance and substantia nigra were not different from controls in brains from patients with Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Analysis of Lewy bodies in the parkinsonian substantia nigra revealed high levels of iron and the presence of aluminum. Metal abundance was not affected in progressive supranuclear palsy, in spite of the nigral cell death. This suggests that the increased iron levels and the detection of aluminum observed in Parkinson's disease are not solely the consequence of the neuronal degeneration.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1991.tb08170.x

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  • Several studies have shown increases of total iron concentration in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease.

    “Several studies have shown increases of total iron concentration in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson’s disease.”
  • Neuropathological studies using accurate spectroscopic methods showed that iron concentrations in the substantia nigra pars compacta and reticulata increase with disease severity.

    “Neuropathological studies that used accurate spectroscopic methods to measure total iron concentrations in specific brain regions, such as substantia nigra pars compacta and reticulata showed that iron concentrations in these regions increase with disease severity.100–103”

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Authors
Hirsch, E. C., Brandel, J. ‐., Galle, P., Javoy‐Agid, F., & Agid, Y.
Affiliations
Inserm (FR)
Venue
Journal of Neurochemistry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1991-02
Volume
56
Issue
2
Pages
446-451
ISSN
  • 0022-3042 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-4159
OpenAlex
W2018080238
Cited by
537
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 14
FWCI
25.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Neurochemistry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological diseases and metabolism
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, substantia nigra, iron, aluminum, neuromelanin, Lewy bodies, trace elements, neurodegeneration
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aluminum, Brain, Electron Probe Microanalysis, Female, Humans, Iron, Male, Melanins, Middle Aged, Parkinson Disease, Substantia Nigra, Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive

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