THE DISTRIBUTION OF LEWY BODIES IN THE CENTRAL AND AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEMS IN IDIOPATHIC PARALYSIS AGITANS

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Abstract
The brain and brain-stem of a case of idiopathic paralysis agitans was syste-matically studied for the distribution of Lewy bodies. In addition a study was made of the peripheral autonomic nervous system, the central nervous system and parts of the peripheral nervous system removed at necropsy from six patients clinically diagnosed as having the same disease. In the single case study Lewy bodies were found in 14 nuclei of the diencephalon and brain stem where occurrence had not previously been described and also in the lateral horns of the spinal cord. Lewy bodies also occur in ganglion cells which do not contain melanin pigment. In 5 of the 6 additional case studies the sympathetic chain ganglia and the prevertebral ganglion coeliacum contained Lewy bodies and cellular degeneration of this type extended into the cell processes. These bodies occur in more nuclear regions than previously known, illustrating the fact that the pathology of Parkinsonism is not limited to the substantia nigra.