Dermal sheet preparations in the evaluation of dermal innervation in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy.
BACKGROUND
Evaluation of dermal nerve fibers in conventional vertical sections is difficult because of the small number of fibers available for examination. In this study, we evaluated dermal sheet mounts for fibers in which the majority of fibers can be visualized.


METHODS
We compared the dermal small fiber density in six Parkinson's disease (PD) and six multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients using dermal sheet preparations (DSP). DSP are based on epidermal-dermal separations and immunostaining of the entire dermis by the nerve growth factor receptor p75 antibody that stains both autonomic and sensory fibers.


RESULTS
The small fiber density was reduced in PD compared with MSA (p < 0.0001), suggesting the presence of small fiber neuropathy in PD.


CONCLUSIONS
DSP offer a unique method of evaluation of dermal nerve fibers. This method can be used to evaluate small nerve fibers in many neurological disorders such as MSA and PD.
Novak
Peter
P
Autonomic Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Marya
Neil B
NB
Whren
Kara
K
Bhawan
Jag
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D020405:Dermis / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis
C484065:NGFR protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor