Cited by 313Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsNeurological diseases and metabolismTrace Elements in Health

Iron-melanin complex in substantia nigra of parkinsonian brains: an x-ray microanalysis

Jellinger, K., Kienzl, Elisabeth, Rumpelmair, G., Riederer, P., Stachelberger, H., Ben‐Shachar, Dorit, Youdim, M. B. H.·1992·Journal of Neurochemistry

Abstract

Using energy-dispersive x-ray analysis on an electron microscope working in the scanning transmission electron microscopy mode equipped with a microanalysis system, we studied the subcellular distribution of trace elements in neuromelanin-containing neurons of the substantia nigra zona compacta (SNZC) of three cases of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) [one with Alzheimer's disease (AD)] and of three controls, in Lewy bodies of SNZC, and in synthetic dopamine-melanin chemically charged or uncharged with Fe. Weak but significant Fe peaks similar to those of a synthetic melanin-Fe3+ complex were seen only in intraneuronal highly electron-dense neuromelanin granules of SNZC cells of PD brains, with the highest levels in a case of PD plus AD, whereas a synthetic melanin-Fe2+ complex showed much lower iron peaks, indicating that neuromelanin has higher affinity for Fe3+ than for Fe2+. No detectable Fe was seen in nonmelanized cytoplasm of SNZC neurons and in the adjacent neuropil in both PD and controls, in Lewy bodies in SNZC neurons in PD, and in synthetic dopamine-melanin uncharged with iron. These findings, demonstrating for the first time a neuromelanin-iron complex in dopaminergic SNZC neurons in PD, support the assumption that an iron-melanin interaction contributes significantly to dopaminergic neurodegeneration in PD and PD plus AD.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1992.tb08362.x

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  • Investigations have shown an increase in redox-active iron associated with neuromelanin in substantia nigra neurons of patients with Parkinson's disease, probably as a result of decreased ferritin synthesis.

    “Investigations have shown an increase in redox-active iron associated with neuromelanin in substantia nigra neurons of patients with Parkinson’s disease, probably as a result of decreased ferritin synthesis.”
  • Increased redox-active iron is higher in patients with the most severe neuronal loss and is absent in neurons without neuromelanin.

    “Increased redox-active iron is higher in patients with the most severe neuronal loss and is absent in neurons without neuromelanin.122–124”

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Authors
Jellinger, K., Kienzl, E., Rumpelmair, G., Riederer, P., Stachelberger, H., Ben‐Shachar, D., & Youdim, M. B. H.
Affiliations
  • Ludwig Boltzmann für Klinische Neurobiologie (AT)
  • TU Wien (AT)
  • University of Würzburg (DE)
  • Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (IL)
Corresponding author
Jellinger, K.
Venue
Journal of Neurochemistry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1992-09
Volume
59
Issue
3
Pages
1168-1171
ISSN
  • 0022-3042 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-4159
OpenAlex
W2017737272
Cited by
313
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
FWCI
14.93
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
neuromelanin, substantia nigra pars compacta, Parkinson's disease, Lewy bodies, dopaminergic neuron loss, iron speciation, iron(III) binding, Alzheimer's disease, trace element distribution
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cytoplasmic Granules, Electron Probe Microanalysis, Humans, Iron, Melanins, Parkinson Disease, Secondary, Substantia Nigra

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