Element analysis of Lewy and adrenal bodies in Parkinson's disease by electron probe microanalysis.

Two possible interpretations of the origin of Lewy bodies and adrenal bodies found in Parkinson's disease are now under discussion: a disorder of (1) catecholamine metabolism or (2) sphingomyelin lipidosis. From the electron probe microanalysis of Lewy bodies and adrenal bodies, we find that the Lewy body contains sulfur, calcium, and phosphorus, and the adrenal body also contains these three elements. Furthermore, a positive correlation was obtained between the X-ray intensity of the sulfur and the diameter of adrenal body. For Lewy bodies, this correlation was not obtained. The results suggest that a common mechanism may exist for the production of Lewy and adrenal bodies, although they differ somewhat in their accumulation of sulfur. It is considered that both structures may originate, in part, from degenerated protein containing sulfur.