Biomaterial Database

Cerebellar Purkinje cell loss is not pathognomonic of essential tremor. 2011

A H Rajput, and C A Robinson, and M L Rajput, and A Rajput

Saskatchewan Health Region, University of Saskatchewan, Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W8, Canada. ali.rajput@saskatoonhealthregion.ca

BACKGROUND Most of the literature on pathology of essential tremor (ET) has reported no consistent abnormalities. Some recent studies however indicate that cerebellar Purkinje cell (PC) loss is the pathological basis of ET in most patients. OBJECTIVE To compare cerebellar PC loss in ET, with normal and tremor dominant Parkinson's disease [PD] control brains. METHODS Cerebellar PC counts were performed in seven ET, six PD and two normal control brains. Three different counting methods - sectioned through nucleolus, through nucleus and through any part of PC body, were used to count the PC. RESULTS There were individual differences in the PC counts both in the ET and the PD cases. In all three subgroups, there was a reduction in the number of PC with advancing age. When the individuals of comparable age in the three subgroups were considered, there was no clear distinction between ET, PD and normal control subjects. There was no association between the degree of PC loss and the severity or the duration of ET. CONCLUSIONS Our study militates against the hypothesis that PC loss is pathognomonic of ET.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010300	Parkinson Disease	A progressive, degenerative neurologic disease characterized by a TREMOR that is maximal at rest, retropulsion (i.e. a tendency to fall backwards), rigidity, stooped posture, slowness of voluntary movements, and a masklike facial expression. Pathologic features include loss of melanin containing neurons in the substantia nigra and other pigmented nuclei of the brainstem. LEWY BODIES are present in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus but may also be found in a related condition (LEWY BODY DISEASE, DIFFUSE) characterized by dementia in combination with varying degrees of parkinsonism. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1059, pp1067-75)	Idiopathic Parkinson Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson Disease,Paralysis Agitans,Primary Parkinsonism,Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson's Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body,Parkinsonism, Primary
D011689	Purkinje Cells	The output neurons of the cerebellar cortex.	Purkinje Cell,Purkinje Neuron,Purkyne Cell,Cell, Purkinje,Cell, Purkyne,Cells, Purkinje,Cells, Purkyne,Neuron, Purkinje,Neurons, Purkinje,Purkinje Neurons,Purkyne Cells
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D002531	Cerebellum	The part of brain that lies behind the BRAIN STEM in the posterior base of skull (CRANIAL FOSSA, POSTERIOR). It is also known as the "little brain" with convolutions similar to those of CEREBRAL CORTEX, inner white matter, and deep cerebellar nuclei. Its function is to coordinate voluntary movements, maintain balance, and learn motor skills.	Cerebella,Corpus Cerebelli,Parencephalon,Cerebellums,Parencephalons
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D000369	Aged, 80 and over	Persons 80 years of age and older.	Oldest Old