Abstract: Levels of iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and lead were measured by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy in parkinsonian and age‐matched control brain tissue. There was 31‐35% increase in the total iron content of the parkinsonian substantia nigra when compared to control tissue. In contrast, in the globus pallidus total iron levels were decreased by 29% in Parkinson's disease. There was no change in the total iron levels in any other region of the parkinsonian brain. Total copper levels were reduced by 34–45% in the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease; no difference was found in the other brain areas examined. Zinc levels were increased in substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease by 50–54%, and the zinc content of the caudate nucleus and lateral putamen was also raised by 18–35%. Levels of manganese and lead were unchanged in all areas of the parkinsonian brain studied when compared to control brains, except for a small decrease (20%) in manganese content of the medial putamen. Increased levels of total iron in the substantia nigra may cause the excessive formation of toxic oxygen radicals, leading to dopamine cell death. Copyright © 1989, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved
CITATION STYLE
Dexter, D. T., Wells, F. R., Lee, A. J., Agid, F., Agid, Y., Jenner, P., & Marsden, C. D. (1989). Increased Nigral Iron Content and Alterations in Other Metal Ions Occurring in Brain in Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Neurochemistry, 52(6), 1830–1836. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.1989.tb07264.x
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