Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Neuropeptides in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: February 14, 2012
BAX protein-immunoreactivity in midbrain neurons of Parkinson's disease patients
Judith M Horowitz1, Danielle M Pastor, Alpna Goyal
1Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Medaille College, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA. torresg@nyit.edu
Abstract:
Apoptosis has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Components of signaling pathways that initiate cell death are highly concentrated in vulnerable substantia nigra (SN) neurons and may therefore contribute to the relentless demise of dopamine cells. Here, we report the distribution and organizational pattern of the pro-apoptotic protein BAX in the parkinsonian brain. Coronal sections (60 microm) of SN material from control and PD patients showed identical expression of BAX-immunoreactivity (IR) in all cases examined. Neurons positive for BAX-IR exhibited a discrete cytoplasmic and dendritic labeling that was conspicuously interspersed with previously unrecognized axonal spheroid-like inclusions. Direct comparisons revealed a difference in the aggregation of BAX-rich inclusions, with the parkinsonian brain containing more SN inclusions than control cases. BAX expression by midbrain neurons was confirmed by immunoblot analysis on SN extracts showing a specific band of approximately 21kDa, which is consistent with the known molecular weight of native BAX. These results suggest that apoptosis or programmed cell death may play an indirect role in idiopathic PD.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Neural Regulation
Lysosomal Hydrolases
Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

