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^^^^^^ WARM GREETINGS FROM ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :-) Ivan Suzman 50/39/36 [log in to unmask] :-) Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 50 sunny deg. F :-) ******************************************************************** Thank you, Chris , for your comments on the life cycle of the color of our substantia nigra . Fascinating. Chris, Bob, any neurosurgeons or neuroanatomists...or anyone else, here is my MAIN question, restated: * I guess I am still wondering if the color of the substantia nigra tissue in the mid brain of a PWP could be an indication of live, functional, but "blocked" dopamine-producing nerve cells, or , is that color instead, proof of "apparently dead" dopamine-producing cells (that can never function again). Chris, or anyone, here are four sub-questions: 1) Are the various pigmentation states of the substantia nigra known through post-mortem study, primarily, or have there been studies where this brain tissue has been observed in persons who are alive? Do these tissues come from autopsy? From surgical theaters? 2) Do surgeons see these mid brain tissues regularly? Rarely? Almost never? 3) In examinations after death, would the color of the substantia nigra be different from what it was during life? If different, could this difference be accounted for either by the deposit of pigment(s), or by the precipitation of protein? 4) Do you think that substantia nigra coloration cold be related to either dopamine or phenylalanine( L-DOPA) deposits, specifically? Or, to what else? Thanks again for your thoughts, Sincerely, Ivan Suzman 50/39/36 On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 05:45:06 -0500 Chris van der Linden <[log in to unmask]> writes: > Dear listmembers, > > At birth the substantia nigra is not pigmented and therefore not > dark; > pigmentation starts and the substantia nigra becomes well identified > at the > age of two year after which the substantia nigra continues to be > pigmented. > In PD these substantai nigra cells, which as you all know contains > dopamine, > degenerate and therefore depigmentation takes place, which off > course is > pathologic and almost pathognomonic for Parkinson's disease. > So the big challenge is to find ways to protect these very valuable > cells, > before the disease starts. > > > Chris van der Linden, M.D. > St. Lucas Hospital Ghent > Ghent, BELGIUM