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[On the neurolipofuscin of the oliva inferior and nucleus dentatus cerebelli in the human brain].

1971; National Institutes of Health; Volume: 121; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

Heiko Braak,

Photoreceptor and optogenetics research

The neurolipofuscin of the oliva inferior and nucleus dentatus has been investigated by means of histochemical, and light- and electron microscopical methods. The pigments of both nuclei contain hydrolytic enzymes and can be demonstrated by lipid stains. The PAS-reaction and the performic acid-aldehyde-fuchsin staining give different results. The pigment of oliva inferior is PAS-positive and gives a strong reaction with aldehydefuchsin or astrablue, the pigment of the nucleus dentatus, on the contrary, does not react at all or only faintly. On the electron microscopical level the two types of pigments differ in their shape, diameter, electron density, and composition. It is assumed, that the pigment of oliva inferior consists to a large extent of a sulfur containing melanin-like substance, which is linked with a PAS-positive autoxidised and polymerised lipid component. This compound is lacking in the pigment of the nucleus dentatus or is present only in small amounts.