Preservation of hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease

Abstract The integrity of the hypothalamic neuroendocrine dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease was assessed by comparing the numbers and distribution of melanin‐pigmented neurons in the arcuate and periventricular nuclei in 7 parkinsonian and 5 normal brains. No significant differences were observed. In contrast to theories suggesting that Parkinson's disease involves a universal degeneration of central catecholaminergic neurons, the hypothalamic neuroendocrine dopaminergic neurons do not appear to be involved by the disease.