The substantia nigra, a neuromelanin containing structure in the brainstem, contains a dense distribution of dopaminergic neurons which undergo degeneration in Parkinson’s disease. In this abstract, we examine spatial locations of neuromelanin depletion and iron deposition in the substantia nigra after onset of Parkinson’s disease. We found the lateral-ventral tier of substantia nigra to exhibit significant neuromelanin depletion whereas iron deposition was observed across the entire substantia nigra. These results accord with prior histological studies examining substantia nigra neuronal loss and may offer insight into the mechanisms behind this loss.
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