>>On Thu, 19 Oct 1995, Steve Rogers wrote:
>>>>> Hi. Can anyone explain why certain brain structures (e.g. substantia
>>> nigra) contain the black pigment, melanin? Thanks in advance.
>>>>>> ****************************************************
>>> Steve Rogers
>>> Dept. of Cell & Structural Biology and the
>>> Beckman Institute - Optical Visualization Facility
>>> Univ. of Illinois @ C-U
>>>srogers at delphi.beckman.uiuc.edu>>> ****************************************************
Steve,
melanins are (by definition) the most difficult compound to be
investigated.
The reasons why there is melanin in the midbrain is not clear
at all, neither is clear what neuromelanin is.
There are many hypothesis concerning a biological role of
neuromelanin, including that reported by AJ Robinson in his reply.
The most important aspect is though that pigmented neurons rapidly
disappear during Parkinson's Disease, a degeneration of Substantia
Nigra Pars Compacta.
If you are interested to these aspects, I suggest to have a look
to a paper of mine, which appeared on J.Neurochem. 62, 369-71 (1994)
Mauro Fasano, Ph.D. voice 39-11-670-7521
Dept. Inorganic Chemistry fax 39-11-670-7524
University of Torino e-mail fasano at ch.unito.it
Italy, 10125 TORINO http://chpc07.ch.unito.it/mauro.htm
