Induction of Neuromelanin in Live Tissue

Authors

Corrine Morrison, Brigham Young University
Dr. Scott Steffensen, Brigham Young University

Keywords

neuromelanin, live tissue, Parkinson's Disease, neuron degeneration

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Neuroscience

Abstract

An estimated seven to ten million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and about 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year (Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 2013). The underlying cause of the movement disorders in PD is dopamine (DA) neuron degeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). A proposed mechanism behind DA cell death is additional oxidative stress that occurs in early stages of the disease state. NM is believed to be a protective agent against reactive oxygen species (ROS), but as NM depigmentation is a distinctive feature of PD, it is likely that there is a link between the loss of NM and increased oxidative stress. The goal of this study was to determine if NM could be induced in live brain tissue in an attempt to circumvent the natural depigmentation of the SNc in PD.

Recommended Citation

Morrison, Corrine and Steffensen, Dr. Scott (2015) "Induction of Neuromelanin in Live Tissue," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2015: Iss. 1, Article 26.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2015/iss1/26