MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBSTANTIA NIGRA CELLULAR STRUCTURES OF THE HUMAN BRAIN

Abstract

Neurons and glial cells were studied by means of computer-assisted morphometry in the segments of the ventral and dorsal regions of the compact part of the substantia nigra (CPSN) of the brain. The material obtained at autopsy from 6 males and 3 females aged from 52 to 87 years. It was found that in segments of the ventral CPSN region the neuronal cell bodies and nuclei were larger than those in the segments of the dorsal region. The numerical density of neurons and gliocytes in the ventrolateral segment was higher than in the segments of the dorsal region. In the ventromedial segment the glial index was lower than in the segments of the dorsal region. The morphometric differences found between CPSN segments must be taken into account in the assessment of the morphological changes in substantia nigra of the brain, due to both age involution or pathological process.

Keywords

human brain / substantia nigra / morphometry / neurons / neuroglia

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