Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Neuromelanin Imaging in Parkinson Disease

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Neuroimaging of Movement Disorders

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU,volume 44))

Abstract

Neuromelanin, a black pigment present in dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and locus ceruleus (LC), has paramagnetic T1-shortening effects. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) techniques fail to depict the contrast generated by neuromelanin, but there are some neuromelanin-sensitive techniques that allow direct visualization of the SNc and LC as evident high-signal areas. In Parkinson disease, neuromelanin-related signals from the SNc and LC are attenuated suggesting neuronal loss in both these nuclei. In other neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, signal alterations of SNc and/or LC can also be shown. Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI is a promising technique to assess changes in these nuclei that occur in Parkinson disease and other related disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Sasaki M, Shibata E, Tohyama K, et al. Neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging of locus ceruleus and substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. Neuroreport. 2006;31:1215–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Schwarz ST, Rittman T, Gontu V, et al. T1-weighted MRI shows stage-dependent substantia nigra signal loss in Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2011;26:1633–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Nakane T, Nihashi T, Kawai H, et al. Visualization of neuromelanin in the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus at 1.5 T using a 3D-gradient echo sequence with magnetization transfer contrast. Magn Reson Med Sci. 2008;7:205–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Fedorow H, Tribl F, Halliday G, et al. Neuromelanin in human dopamine neurons: comparison with peripheral melanins and relevance to Parkinson’s disease. Prog Neurobiol. 2005;75:109–24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Zecca L, Tampellini D, Gerlach M, et al. Substantia nigra neuromelanin: structure, synthesis, and molecular behaviour. Mol Path. 2001;54:414–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Zecca L, Zucca FA, Wilms H, et al. Neuromelanin of the substantia nigra: a neuronal black hole with protective and toxic characteristics. Trends Neurosci. 2003;26:578–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fasano M, Bergamasco B, Lopiano L. Modifications of the iron-neuromelanin system in Parkinson’s disease. J Neurochem. 2006;96:909–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Tosk JM, Holshouser BA, Aloia RC, et al. Effects of the interaction between ferric iron and L-dopa melanin on T1 and T2 relaxation times determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Magn Reson Med. 1992;26:40–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Enochs WS, Petherick P, Boqdanova A, et al. Paramagnetic metal scavenging by melanin: MR imaging. Radiology. 1997;204:417–23.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Shibata E, Sasaki M. Imaging of neuromelanin. In: Naidich TP, Duvernoy HM, Delman BN, et al. editors. Duvernoy’s atlas of the human brain stem and cerebellum. Wien, Springer; 2009. p. 475–482.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sasaki M, Shibata E, Tohyama K, et al. Monoamine neurons in the human brain stem: anatomy, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and clinical implications. Neuroreport. 2008;19:1649–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Shibata E, Sasaki M, Tohyama K, et al. Reduced signal of locus ceruleus in depression in quantitative neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroreport. 2007;18:415–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lehericy S, Sharman MA, Santos CL, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2012;27:822–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kashihara K, Shinya T, Higaki F. Reduction of neuromelanin-positive nigral volume in patients with MSA, PSP and CBD. Intern Med. 2011;50:1683–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kashihara K, Shinya T, Higaki F. Neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging of nigral volume loss in patients with Parkinson’s disease. J Clin Neurosci. 2011;18:1093–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Shibata E, Sasaki M, Tohyama K, et al. Use of neuromelanin-sensitive MRI to distinguish schizophrenic and depressive patients and healthy individuals based on signal alterations in the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus. Biol Psychiatry. 2008;64:401–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Sasaki M, Shibata E, Ohtsuka K, et al. Visual discrimination among patients with depression and schizophrenia and healthy individuals using semiquantitative color-coded fast spin-echo T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroradiology. 2010;52:83–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was partly supported by a grant-in-aid for Advanced Medical Science Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Ultrahigh Field MRI, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Iwate Medical University, 19-1 Uchimaru, 020-8505, Morioka, Japan

    Prof. Makoto Sasaki MD, PhD, Assist. Prof. Fumio Yamashita PhD & Sr. Assist. Prof. Kohsuke Kudo MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Prof. Makoto Sasaki MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Assist. Prof. Fumio Yamashita PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sr. Assist. Prof. Kohsuke Kudo MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Makoto Sasaki MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Neuroscience, University of California at San Diego, Gilman Dr 9500, La Jolla, 92093, California, USA

    Fatta B. Nahab

  2. , Neurorehabilitation Research Institute, Morinomiya Hospital, Morinomiya 2-1-88, Joto-ku,Osaka-shi, 536-0025, Osaka, Japan

    Noriaki Hattori

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sasaki, M., Yamashita, F., Kudo, K. (2013). Neuromelanin Imaging in Parkinson Disease. In: Nahab, F., Hattori, N. (eds) Neuroimaging of Movement Disorders. Current Clinical Neurology, vol 44. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-471-5_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-471-5_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-470-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-471-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation