Research article summary (published 30 May 2004):

Differential loss of striatal projection systems in Huntington's disease: a quantitative immunohistochemical study.

Full Abstract

Prior studies suggest differences exist among striatal projection neuron types in their vulnerability to Huntington's disease (HD). In the present study, we immunolabeled the fibers and terminals of the four main types of striatal projection neuron in their target areas for substance P, enkephalin, or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and used computer-assisted image analysis to quantify the abundance of immunolabeled terminals in a large sample of HD cases ranging from grade 0 to grade 4 [J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 44 (1985) 559], normalized to labeling in control human brains. Our goal was to characterize the relative rates of loss of the two striatopallidal projection systems (to the internal versus the external pallidal segments) and the two striatonigral projections systems (to pars compacta versus pars reticulata). The findings for GAD and the two neuropeptides were similar--the striatal projection to the external pallidal segment was the most vulnerable, showing substantial loss by grade 1. Loss of fibers in both subdivisions of the substantia nigra was also already great by grade 1. By contrast, the loss in the striatal projection system to the internal segment of globus pallidus proceeded more gradually. By grade 4 of HD, however, profound loss in all projection systems was apparent. These findings support the notion that the striatal neurons preferentially projecting to the internal pallidal segment are, in fact, less vulnerable in HD than are the other striatal projection neuron types.

Author information

Author/s: Deng, Y P (YP); Albin, R L (RL); Penney, J B (JB); Young, A B (AB); Anderson, K D (KD); Reiner, A (A);

Affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.

Grants: NS01300 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; NS19613 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; NS19620 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; NS28721 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; NS38166 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of chemical neuroanatomy (J Chem Neuroanat), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2004-Jun; vol 27 (issue 3) : pp 143-64

Dates: Created 2004/06/08; Completed 2004/08/18; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 15183201, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Child Corpus Striatum - pathology Female Glutamate Decarboxylase - metabolism Humans

Humans Huntington Disease - pathology Image Processing, Computer-Assisted Immunohistochemistry Male Middle Aged Neural Pathways - pathology Neurons - pathology Substance P - metabolism

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Substance P (33507-63-0) ; Glutamate Decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.15)

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