Substantia nigra

The substantia nigra is a Basal Ganglia structure important in reward and movement. It is enriched in dopaminergic neurons and in neuromelanin. Parkinson's disease is characterized by the death of dopaminergic cells in the substantial nigra pars compacta.

The substantia nigra is made of two separate anatomical sections: the pars compacta and the pars reticulata. The compacta serves to provide the Striatum of the basal ganglia with dopamine. The reticulata conveys output from the basal ganglia to many other structures.