[DISTRIBUTION OF THE MARINESCO BODIES IN THE NEURONS OF HUMAN BRAIN SUBSTANTIA NIGRA]

The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence and intranuclear distribution of Marinesco bodies in substantia nigra neurons of the human brain. Marinesco bodies were identified in substantia nigra sections of 5 men aged 28 to 58 years old using Nissl staining and immunohistochemical detection of ubiquitin--the protein characteristic of this intranuclear inclusion. Marinesco bodies were found in 1-2% of the substantia nigra neurons, but not in adjacent brain areas. One neuron contained 1-4 Marinesco bodies sized up to 6.7x5.1 microm, which were located both near and at a distance from the nucleolus. Most Marinesco bodies exhibited ubiquitin expression. A trend was found for the increased incidence of Marinesco bodies in human substantia nigra neurons with age.