Neurons and glial cells were studied by computerized morphometry in segments of the ventral and dorsal areas of the compact zone of the substantia nigra (CZSN) of the brain in autopsy material obtained from six men and three women aged 52–87 years. Neuron body and nuclear sizes were found to be greater in segments of the ventral area of the CZSN than in segments of the dorsal area. Neuron and glial cell densities in the ventrolateral segment were higher than in segments of the dorsal area. The glial index in the ventromedial segment was lower than in segments of the dorsal area. These morphometric differences between CZSN segments need to be considered for assessment of morphological changes in the substantia nigra associated with both age-related involution and pathological processes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. G. Trufanov and I. V. Litvinenko, “Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the substantia nigra in primary patients with Parkinson’s disease not previously treated with levodopa,” in: Parkinson’s Disease and Motor Disorders: Guidelines for Doctors, RKI Sovero Press, Moscow (2014), pp. 147–149.
P. A. Alladi, A. Mahadevan, T. C. Yasha, et al., “Absence of age-related changes in nigral dopaminergic neurons of Asian Indians: relevance to lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease,” Neuroscience, 159, 236–245 (2009).
C. R. Cabello, J. J. Thune, H. Pakkenberg, and B. Pakkenberg, “Ageing of substantia nigra in humans: cell loss may be compensated by hypertrophy,” Neuropathol. Appl. Neurobiol., 28, 283–291 (2002).
Y. Chu, K. Kompoliti, E. J. Cochran, et al., “Age-related decreases in Nurr1 immunoreactivity in the human substantia nigra,” J. Comp. Neurol., 450, 203–214 (2002).
P. Damier, E. C. Hirsch, Y. Agid, and A. M. Graybiel, “The substantia nigra of the human brain. I. Nigrosomes and nigral matrix, a compartmental organization based on calbindin D28k immunohistochemistry,” Brain, 122, No. 8, 1421–1436 (1999).
J. M. Fearnley and A. J. Lees, “Ageing and Parkinson’s disease: substantia nigra regional selectivity,” Brain, 114, 2283–2301 (1991).
C. Henchcliffe and W. L. Severt, “Disease modifi cation in Parkinson’s disease,” Drugs Aging, 28, No. 8, 605–615 (2011).
J. H. Kardower, C. W. Olanow, H. B. Dodiya, et al., “Disease duration and the integrity of the nigrostriatal system in Parkinson’s disease,” Brain, 136, No. 8, 2419–2431 (2013).
K. S. Panickar and M. D. Norenberg, “Astrocytes in cerebral ischemic injury: morphological and general considerations,” Glia, 50, No. 4, 287–298 (2005).
G. W. Ross, H. Petrovitch, R. D. Abbott, et al., “Parkinsonian signs and substantia nigra neuron density in decendants elders without PD,” Ann. Neurol., 56, No. 4, 532–539 (2004).
G. Rudow, R. O’Brien, A. V. Savonenko, et al., “Morphometry of the human substantia nigra in ageing and Parkinson’s disease,” Acta Neuropathol., 115, No. 4, 461–470 (2008).
F. A. Zucca, E. Basso, F. A. Cupaioli, et al., “Neuromelanin of the human substantia nigra: an update,” Neurotox. Res., 25, No. 1, 13–23 (2014).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Translated from Morfologiya, Vol. 149, No. 2, pp. 7–10, March–April, 2016.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sal’kov, V.N., Khudoerkov, R.M. & Voronkov, D.N. Morphometric Characteristics of Cell Structures in the Substantia Nigra in Humans. Neurosci Behav Physi 47, 366–369 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-017-0406-2
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-017-0406-2