Combined histochemical and biochemical demonstration of nigral vulnerability to lipid peroxidation induced by dopa and iron.

Using a newly developed lipid peroxidation-inducing system composed of DOPA and iron, we examined the vulnerability of substantia nigra to peroxidation in comparison with that of caudate-putamen obtained from normal or vitamin E-deficient animals. Histochemical detection of lipid peroxidation revealed that substantia nigra was far more susceptible than caudate putamen to DOPA and iron treatment, which was biochemically supported by measurements of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Vitamin E deficiency accelerated such susceptibility of substantia nigra but had no influence on the histochemical findings observed in caudate-putamen.