Eur J Anat, 4 (1): 15-18 (2000)

Heterogeneous distribution of cytochrome oxidase activity in the human substantia nigra pars compacta

Carmona A., Catalina-Herrera C.J., Jimenez-Castellanos R., Jimenez-Castellanos J.

Depto. de Ciencias Morfologicas, Facultad de Medicina, Avda. Sanchez Pizjuan, 4, 41009-Sevilla, Spain

ABSTRACT The activity of the enzyme cytochrome oxidase has been analyzed in the human substantia nigra at light microscope level. The distribution of this activity is relatively uniform in the substantia nigra, except in the caudomedial region of the pars compacta, where a reduction was observed. This nigral zone matched a region characterized by its relatively high content of acetylcholinesterase activity. Our results are analyzed with reference to data in the literature, showing the existence of a neuroanatomical and functional subdivision within the pars compacta. Our findings add new proof of the known neurochemical heterogeneity of the nigral complex.

Keywords: acetylcholinesterase, cytochrome c oxidase, article, basal ganglion, brain region, cell heterogeneity, cytoarchitecture, enzyme activity, functional anatomy, human, human tissue, microscopy, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, substantia nigra