Neuronal loss in the basal nucleus of Meynert in a patient with olivopontocerebellar atrophy.
A morphometric study of the basal nucleus of Meynert has been performed in a case of familial olivopontocerebellar atrophy with mental deterioration. The magnocellular population of the basal nucleus was found to be substantially reduced in number (over 60%) as compared with that of three age-matched controls. This finding has not been reported previously and might represent one of the anatomic substrates of some of the cognitive disturbances exhibited by a considerable number of patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA).
D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D010551:Personality; D011149:Pons / Q000473:pathology*; D013377:Substantia Innominata / Q000473:pathology*