DEGENERATION OF THE CEREBELLAR DENTATE NUCLEUS AND THE INFERIOR OLIVARY NUCLEI IN HIV-1-INFECTED BRAINS - A MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Motor dysfunction is frequently noted in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients. Until recently, neuropathological ch anges found in the basal ganglia were advanced as pathogenetic mechani sms. In the present study, further brain structures involved in motor control were analyzed morphometrically. The volume density, numerical density, and the size of neurons in the cerebellar dentate nucleus and in both inferior olivary nuclei were determined. In both regions of H IV-1-infected brains, a significant reduction in the volume density, t he numerical density of neurons and neuronal size was apparent. The mo rphometric data from the present study disclose involvement of both ty pes of nuclei investigated during the course of HIV-1 infection, and m ight constitute a possible morphological substrate for the motor dysfu nction seen in HIV-1-infected patients.