Iron and its relation to glycoconjugates in human globus pallidus.

Iron and eosinophilic, argyrophilic spheroid structures of glycoconjugates are observed in the pallido-nigral system of human and nonhuman primates. In the present study, we map the localization and distribution of ferritin and hemosiderin and their relation to neutral and acidic (sulphated and carboxylated) glycoconjugates in human globus pallidus. We investigated tissues of human globus pallidus without any motor abnormalities and psychiatric symptoms. Acidic (Alcian blue, AB pH 2.5) and neutral glycoconjugates (PAS reaction) showed spheroid deposits with the size of 5-15 µm. Staining reaction utilizing AB (pH 1.0) displays sulphated fibers and highly sulphated (AB pH 0.5) glycoconjugates round deposits. AF/AB pH 2.5 for separating sulphated from carboxylated glycoconjugates revealed the presence of both sulphated and carboxylated glycoconjugates. Perls' and Turnbull's positive reaction showed the presence of Fe(III) and Fe(II) (hemosiderin) and Ag-NOR reaction showed ferric phosphate (ferritin) deposits. Scanning electron microscope with microanalysis revealed the iron in glycoconjugates globular deposits. We suppose the presence of glycoconjugates in the samples is the result of elimination and inactivation of iron as inductor of reactive oxygen species. They can be a useful neuroprotective agent in CNS degradation (Tab. 2, Fig. 7, Ref. 44).