Neurodegeneration Lewy bodies

Haslrimoto M, Masliali E (2003). Cycles of abeiTant synaptic sprouting and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer s and dementia widi Lewy bodies. Neurochem Res 28 1743—1756. 

Parkinson disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder that affects in the US approximately 1 x 10 persons [4]. Pathological features include degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra coupled with intracytoplasmic aggregates known as Lewy bodies. Neurodegeneration and Lewy bodies can also be found in the locus ceruleus, nucleus basalis, hypothalamus, cortex, motor nuclei. Risk factors are toxins e.g. MPP, which causes a defect of the mitochondrial complex I [4]. 

In AD, misfolded Ap peptide 1-42 accumulates in the neuronal endoplasmic reticulum extracellularly as plaques. In contrast, in PD and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) abnormal accumulation of a-synuclein occurs in neuronal cell bodies, axons, and synapses. Furthermore, in DLB, Ap 1-42 has been reported to promote a-synuclein accumulation and neurodegeneration (Hashimoto et ah, 2003). 

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