alpha-TOCOPHEROL concentrations in brain were reduced to 3% of control
levels in rats fed a vitamin E deficient diet for 52 weeks. Vitamin E
deficiency resulted in a 19-33% loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) imm
unopositive neurones in the substantia nigra, but not in the adjacent
ventral tegmental area, compared with controls. Vitamin E deficiency,
however, did not reduce striatal dopamine concentrations or turnover.
When antioxidant defence mechanisms are defective, as in chronic vitam
in E deficiency, the nigrostriatal pathway may be affected by oxidativ
e damage and this may have implications for Parkinson's disease.