MPTP causes a non-reversible depression of synaptic transmission in mouse neostriatal brain slice

MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) causes a Parkinson's disease-like syndrome. The mechanism of MPTP's neurotoxicity is unknown; however, one hypothesis is that MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium), a product of MPTP's oxidation, is the neurotoxic agent. Using a mouse brain slice preparation we studied the effects of MPTP and MPP+ on synaptic transmission. We found MPTP caused a decrease in amplitude of an excitatory synaptic response not reversed by washing. This non-reversible action of MPTP was prevented by GBR-32 and pargyline. MPP+s caused a decrease in synaptic transmission, but this decrease was reversed by washing. The results suggest that the toxic effect of MPTP on synaptic transmission is not accounted for by the action of MPP+.     

The use of astrocytes in culture as model systems for evaluating neurotoxic-induced-injury.

The prevailing thought that astrocytes function predominantly as passive metabolic or even physical support for neurons has faded over the last 20 years. Today these stellar shaped cells are credited with an expanded role, playing key functions in CNS development, homeostasis, and pathology. In probing their expanded roles, primary astrocyte culture systems have proven to be an indispensable tool. Astrocytes have been implicated in both a defensive and facilitatory capacity for many toxic injuries. Evidence for a protective role of astrocytes in modulating CNS toxicity is afforded by observations that the toxicity of glutamate to cortical neurons is diminished upon astrocytic enrichment of the cell culture (Rosenberg and Aizenman, 1989). In cultures of rat cerebral cortex in which astrocyte proliferation is stringently suppressed, glutamate neurotoxicity occurs at low glutamate concentrations similar to those which are normally found in the extracellular space in the hippocampus. In the presence of excess astrocytes, concentrations of glutamate one-hundred fold higher are required to produce equivalent neurotoxicity (Rosenberg and Aizenman, 1989). Astrocytes can facilitate the action of neurotoxins via a modulating process which takes place within the astrocyte or by a direct cytotoxic effect. Whereas primary astrocyte cultures remain unaffected by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; Marini et al., 1989), they function prominently in the selective destruction of dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway in humans, other primates and rodents (Davis et al. 1979; Langston et al., 1983; Burns et al., 1983; Langston et al., 1984; Heikkila et al., 1984; Jarvis and Wagner, 1985). Thus, while MPTP by itself is not toxic to cerebellar cells in co-culture with cerebellar astrocytes, MPTP is toxic to the granule cells (Marini et al, 1989). This is thought to be due to an astrocyte-mediated conversion of MPTP to its highly polar and toxic metabolite, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+; Chiba et al. 1984). There is compelling evidence that astrocytes respond directly or indirectly to a number of other neurotoxins. Direct cytotoxic effects on astrocytes constitute the major morphologic feature in hyperammonemia (Norenberg, 1981), a condition implicated as an etiologic factor in several CNS disorders. In addition, a predisposition of astrocytes for methylmercury uptake (Aschner et al., 1990 a,b) offers a possible explanation for the observed neurotoxicity of this heavy metal, since a direct toxic effect on astrocytes would result in failure of astrocyte homeostatic functions, indirectly resulting in neuronal impairment, injury and death.     

Attenuation of MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity by a serotonin uptake blocker

Summary Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) has been determined to be the enzyme responsible for the conversion of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) into its toxic metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine ion (MPP+). Since this enzyme has been localized primarily in astrocytes and serotonergic neurons, it would appear that MPP+ is being produced outside the dopaminergic neurons. To investigate this possibility, the administration of MPTP was preceded by systemically administered fluoxetine. In keeping with its demonstrated ability to inhibit uptake into serotonergic neurons and serotonin uptake into astrocytes, fluoxetine pretreatment resulted in a significant attenuation of MPTP-induced depletions of striatal dopamine and serotonin concentration. These results support the extra-dopaminergic production of MPP+.     

Production and disposition of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium in primary cultures of mouse astrocytes.

Dopaminergic neurons are a primary target for 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxicity. However, the conversion of MPTP to its neurotoxic 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium metabolite (MPP+) is likely to occur in astrocytes via the monoamine oxidase (MAO)-dependent formation of the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydropyridinium intermediate (MPDP+). The main purpose of this study was to characterize the molecular mechanism(s) by which MPP+, once generated by astrocytes, may reach the extracellular space to become available for the active accumulation into dopaminergic neurons. Primary cultures of mouse astrocytes were used as an in vitro model system. After the addition of MPTP, levels of MPP+ were found to increase at constant rates both intracellularly and extracellularly at time points when no sign of cytotoxicity was evident. In contrast, MPDP+ levels remained quite stable during 4 days of incubation in the presence of MPTP. Finally, when astrocytes were allowed to accumulate MPP+ by pretreatment with either MPTP or MPP+ and then were incubated in fresh medium not containing MPTP or MPP+, intracellular levels of MPP+ rapidly declined and corresponding amounts of this compound were found in the incubation medium. Results of this study are compatible with the following conclusions: 1) the MPP+ accumulated in the extracellular compartment during incubations with MPTP is not released from astrocytes as a consequence of its own cytotoxic effects; 2) MPP+ can be formed extracellularly presumably via autoxidation of MPDP+ after this latter compound has been generated within astrocytes and has crossed astrocyte membranes; and 3) despite its charged chemical structure, MPP+ can cross the plasma membrane toward the extracellular space after being formed within astrocytes.     

Acetaldehyde directly enhances MPP+ neurotoxicity and delays its elimination from the striatum

We have previously shown that ethanol and acetaldehyde (ACE) potentiate MPTP toxicity in mice, selectively enhancing dopamine (DA) depletion in the striatum and markedly increasing loss of DA neurons in the substantia nigra. Several months after these combined treatments there is no evidence of any recovery. In the present study, we measured the accumulation of the MPTP toxic metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) in both striatum and whole brain, after MPTP alone or after combined treatments with ethanol or acetaldehyde, in order to determine whether this enhancement of toxicity is caused by changes in the MPTP metabolism. We also investigated whether acetaldehyde interfered with the conversion of MPTP to MPP+ by glial cells in vitro and studied its effects on the MPP+ uptake and spontaneous release from mesencephalic DA neurons or striatal astrocytes in primary cell cultures from E13 mouse embryos. The results from the in vivo experiments indicated that relatively low doses of ethanol or acetaldehyde potentiate directly MPP+ toxicity, apparently without interfering with its pharmacokinetics. However when higher doses of these drugs were administered, they also decreased MPP+ clearance from the striatum. ACE also increased initial MPTP accumulation in the whole brain but failed to enhance MPP+ levels, thus indicating that ACE effect is not related to MPTP metabolism. In vitro studies confirmed that ACE does not modify MPTP metabolism in striatal or mesencephalic astrocytes in culture. In mesencephalic neuronal cultures ACE does not change the levels of MPP+ uptake (MPP+ is accumulated in putative DA neurons in vitro with a mechanism similar to that of the DA high affinity uptake) nor its spontaneous release. These results indicate that the slower MPP+ clearance from the stratum after ACE is not related to a direct effect of ACE on DA neurons or astrocytes.     

The glutamate antagonist, MK-801, does not prevent dopaminergic cell death induced by the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP) in rat dissociated mesencephalic cultures

The neuroprotective effects of MK-801, a non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor/channel, were assessed in a culture model which reproduces in vitro the selective degeneration of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons seen in parkinsonian brains. Dissociated mesencephalic cells derived from rat embryonic brains were subjected for 24 h to intoxication by the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the active metabolite of the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). MPP+ at 3 and 10 microM produced selective and dose-dependent damages to dopaminergic neurons as quantified by the loss of the number of TH immunoreactive cells and the loss of [3H]DA uptake whereas other cell types remained unaffected. MK-801 at 3 and 10 microM failed to rescue degenerating dopaminergic neurons in presence of MPP+. At 50 microM, i.e. the highest concentration that is not toxic by itself in this culture system, MK-801 was also found ineffective. Furthermore, degree of dopaminergic cell damage was not reduced when repeated additions of the glutamate antagonist (10 microM/6 h for 24 h) were performed during exposure to MPP+ or when mesencephalic cultures were left after intoxication for up to 2 days in a culture medium still supplemented with MK-801 but free of toxin. In accordance with these results, MK-801 did not affect significantly the uptake of [3H]DA in control cultures, thereby suggesting that this compound cannot prevent intracellular accumulation of MPP+ within dopaminergic neurons. At higher concentrations of MPP+ (100 microM) tested, toxic effects were seen toward dopaminergic neurons and non-dopaminergic cells as quantified by Trypan blue dye accumulation and loss of [3H]GABA uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The role of phospholipid methylation in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium ion (MPP+)-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells

Excessive methylation has been proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), via mechanisms that involve phospholipid methylation. Meanwhile, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was found to stimulate phospholipid methylation via the oxidized metabolite, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+), in the rat brain and liver tissues. In the present study, we investigated the effect of MPP+ on phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferases (PENMT) and the potential role of this pathway in MPP(+)-induced neurotoxicity using PC12 cells. The results obtained indicate that MPP+ stimulated phosphatidylethanolamine (PTE) methylation to phosphatidylcholine (PTC) and correspondingly increased the formation of lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PTC). Moreover, the addition of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the cell culture medium increases MPP(+)-induced cytotoxicity. The incubation of 1mM MPP+ and various concentrations of SAM (0-4 mM) decreased the viability of PC12 cells from 80% with MPP+ alone to 38% viability with 4 mM SAM for 4 days incubation. The data also revealed that the addition of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), a methylation inhibitor, offered significant protection against MPP(+)-induced cytotoxicity, indicating that methylation plays a role in MPP(+)-induced cytotoxicity. Interestingly, lyso-PTC showed similar actions to MPP+ in causing many cytotoxic changes with at least 10 times higher potency. Lyso-PTC induced dopamine release and inhibited dopamine uptake in PC12 cells. Lyso-PTC also caused the inhibition of mitochondrial potential and increased the formation of reactive oxygen species in PC12 cells. These results indicate that phospholipid methylation pathway might be involved in MPP+ neurotoxicity and lyso-PTC might play a role in MPP(+)-induced neurotoxicity.     

Contribution of MPTP to studies on the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease

Progress in the research on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is reviewed, and the impact given by MPTP to the studies on Parkinson's disease is discussed. Our data on the mechanism of the neuronal degeneration in MPTP-induced experimental parkinsonism are also presented. We studied the effects of the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) on mitochondrial respiration. Mitochondria were prepared from mouse brains, and oxygen consumption was measured polarographically. Activity of Complex I was measured after the incubation of the mitochondria with NAD(+)-utilizing substrates in the TCA cycle and ADP. MPP+ significantly inhibited the state 3 respiration supported by glutamate. Amount of ATP synthesized was also significantly reduced by MPP+. Activity of Complex I was significantly inhibited by MPP+. This inhibition was observed with 0.05 mM of MPP+ when intact mitochondria were used. These observations suggest mitochondria as the most probable site of the action for MPP+. It appears to be important to search for endogenous or exogenous toxic substances with similar pharmacological properties as MPTP to elucidate pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. In addition, studies on mitochondrial functions in Parkinson's disease seem to be also important. Some preliminary data are shown.     

MPP+-induced pathophysiology demonstrates advantages of neurotoxicology studies in brain slices

Since MPTP and its metabolite MPP+ produce nigrostriatal lesions and symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, recent studies have aimed toward defining their selectivity and neurotoxic mechanisms. In mitochondria in vitro, MPP+ blocked electron transport and decreased oxygen consumption. However, these effects were not selective to striatal mitochondria or even to mitochondria from brain, they required concentrations of MPP+ much greater than those found in vivo, and physiological actions could not be related to intramitochondrial changes. Lower doses of MPP+ did produce highly selective degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in cell cultures. We report here that MPP+ provoked large (80%) oxidations of cytochrome b and large K+o increments (approximately 30 mM) in rat striatal slices. These effects were slowed by mazindol, which inhibits DA uptake, and were markedly attenuated in rat hippocampal slices which have little DA input. Since DA terminals comprise only 2-4% of the striatal mass, the large MPP+-induced changes suggest that while MPP+ neurotoxicity in brain requires the presence of functioning DA terminals, effects are not confined to these terminals. Such studies illustrate the complexity of MPP+ neurotoxicity and demonstrate the importance of investigations in models such as brain slices with an extracellular space and intracellular relationships as in intact brain.     

MPP-induced increases in extracellular potassium ion activity in rat striatal slices suggest that consequences of MPP neurotoxicity are spread beyond dopaminergic terminals

MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) produces symptoms similar to idiopathic Parkinson's disease in primates. A metabolite of MPTP, MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium), is actively accumulated by dopaminergic (DA) terminals and selectively destroys nigrostriatal DA neurons. The mechanism of this effect remains unknown but reports that MPP+ inhibits electron transport in isolated mitochondria and increases oxidation of cytochrome b in striatal slices suggest that depression of ATP production is involved. To relate metabolic effects of MPP+ with tissue electrophysiology, extracellular potassium ion activity [K+]o was measured by microelectrodes simultaneous to optical monitoring of reduction/oxidation (redox) activity of cytochrome b during superfusion of MPP+ onto rat striatal and hippocampal slices. MPP+ increased oxidation of cytochrome b and increased [K+]o in slices of striatum. These increases were greater than expected from a selective effect of MPP+ on DA terminals which likely comprise no more than 3% of the total striatal mass. These effects of MPP+ were slowed by a dopamine uptake inhibitor (mazindol) and did not occur in hippocampal slices. These findings indicate that MPP+ influences ion transport as well as metabolic activity and that these actions require the presence of functioning DA terminals. However, the large amplitudes of the MPP+-induced changes suggest that consequences of MPP+-neurotoxicity are not ultimately confined to DA terminals. Two hypothesis are proposed: that energy failure in DA terminals results in leakage of neurotoxic substances or metabolites altering membrane conductance properties of adjacent cells and thereby placing additional demand upon ion transport pumps and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation; or that there is secondary uptake of MPP+ leading to mitochondrial inhibition in cells neighboring DA terminals.     

Neurons depend on astrocytes in a coculture system for protection from glutamate toxicity.

Glutamate can be toxic to neurons although it is a neurotransmitter. Regulation of extracellular glutamate levels is essential for prevention of glutamate neurotoxicity. Astrocytes play a major role in clearance of glutamate released by neurons. A coculture system combining cerebellar cells and astrocytes was employed to investigate the astrocytic control of glutamate toxicity. Coculture of astrocytes with cerebellar neurons enhanced uptake of glutamate by astrocytes. Inhibition of glutamate uptake in a coculture system led to death of cerebellar cells. This toxicity could be inhibited by MK801. However, in the presence of the glutamate uptake inhibitor, there was no increase in glutamate in the cultures compared to when the neurons were not cocultured. This indicated that neurons become more susceptible to glutamate toxicity in the presence of astrocytes and thus become dependent on astrocytes for prevention of glutamate toxicity. Astrocytes treated with conditioned medium from cerebellar cells did not show an increase in glutamate uptake but medium from astrocytes exposed to neuron conditioned medium was toxic to cerebellar cells. This toxicity was due to glutamate present in the medium. This suggests that a soluble factor released by neurons signals to astrocytes that neurons are present and stimulates a signal back to neurons which causes an increased sensitivity to glutamate toxicity.     

A model of chronic neurotoxicity: long-term retention of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) within catecholaminergic neurons

The mechanism by which 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) produces lesions in the nigrostriatal dopamine system has been extensively studied. MPTP, a lipophilic molecule, enters the brain rapidly where it is converted to the pyridinium metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), by a two-step reaction that requires the enzyme monoamine oxidase. Following this conversion, which occurs primarily in astrocytes, MPP+ is sequestered within monoaminergic neurons by the energy-requiring monoaminergic transporters. Inside the neuron, MPP+ is thought to act as a mitochondrial toxin, slowly sapping the neuron of its energy-producing potential by blocking the action of NADH dehydrogenase. Much attention has been focused on cell death after MPTP administration, but little attention has been paid to the effects of small subtoxic doses of MPTP (i.e., doses that do not produce overt neuropathologic changes), which might occur during environmental exposure to a nigrostriatal toxin. Low doses of MPTP (as little as 1/25th of a toxic dose) produce long-term (greater than 6 weeks) but reversible changes in catecholamine metabolism. These changes are characterized by a decrease in the products of enzymatic oxidative deamination without a concomitant decrease in the amine concentrations (apparent MAO inhibition). Striatal concentrations of MPP+, which is retained in catecholaminergic terminals for similarly long periods, parallel the metabolic changes. Thus, the long-term storage of the MPTP metabolite, MPP+, correlates with altered catecholamine metabolism. The data on the effects of MPTP have been combined into a working model of how MPP+ exerts its effects following subtoxic or toxic doses. The site of this long-term neuronal storage of MPP+ after exposure to subtoxic doses of MPTP is as yet undetermined, but several studies suggest that monoaminergic vesicles may be the primary site, with mitochondria contributing some storage capacity. This vesicular site could represent a potential brain site for the accumulation of toxins during continual or repeated exposure to low levels of MPTP. Induced release from this site might accelerate the toxic interactions with cellular components such as mitochondria.     

MPTP: a neurotoxin relevant to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. The 1985 George C. Cotzias lecture

MPTP (N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) elicits selective destruction of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in humans and animals along with clinical symptoms of parkinsonism. Recent studies clarify mechanisms accounting for this neurotoxicity. MPTP binds with high affinity to monoamine oxidase, which transforms it to the pyridinium MPP+ . MPP+ is selectively concentrated by the dopamine neuronal uptake system. In nigral cells, binding by melanin of MPP+ affords a "depot" release mechanism to maintain prolonged high intracellular concentrations sufficient to destroy cells. PC-12 cells provide a model catecholamine cell culture for screening environmentally occurring substances that may be relevant in the etiology of idiopathic Parkinson's disease.     

Potential environmental neurotoxins related to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium: selective toxicity of 1-methyl-4-(4'-acetamidophenyl)-pyridinium and 1-methyl-4-cyclohexylpyridinium for dopaminergic neurons in culture

Mesencephalic cells in culture were exposed to various compounds which we hypothesized to be selective toxins for dopaminergic neurons. The culture system was previously shown suitable for assessing selective dopaminergic neurotoxicity, since 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+), the active metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinium, destroyed dopaminergic neurons without affecting other cells. Some compounds tested were selected to fulfill two criteria believed to underly the selective dopaminergic neurotoxicity of MPP+, i.e., to be a potential substrate for the uptake carrier for dopamine and to possess a strong delocalized positive charge to inhibit the mitochondrial respiratory system. Other compounds were chosen on the basis of clinical or anecdotal evidence linking them to Parkinson's disease. Among the tested compounds two pyridinium analogs, 1-methyl-4-(4'-acetamidophenyl)pyridinium (MACPP+) and 1-methyl-4-cyclohexylpyridinium (MCP+) were found to be selectively toxic toward dopaminergic neurons. Incubation of cultures with both MACPP+ and MCP+ produced a dramatic reduction in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells and the uptake of [3H]dopamine without reducing the number of cells visualized by phase-contrast microscopy or the uptake of [3H]aminobutyric acid. Besides MACPP+ and MCP+ none of the tested compounds exhibited any selective dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Together with earlier findings, these data suggest that the structural requirements are rather strict for a chemical to be a selective dopaminergic neurotoxin and make it unlikely that there is a wide spectrum of environmental dopaminergic toxins.     

1—甲基—4—苯基吡啶离子诱导MES23．5细胞线粒体功能异常的实验研究

目的：探讨1－甲基－4－苯基吡啶离子（MPP^ ）诱导多巴胺（DA）能神经元死亡的线粒体功能异常机制。方法：不同浓度的1－甲基－4－苯基－1,2,3,6－四氢吡啶（MPTP）、MPP 及还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）与MES23．5细胞共同培养,采用MTT比色法及流式细胞术检测细胞线粒体膜电势（△Ψm）和氧自由基（ROS）的变.MES23\5在力在MPP^ 组显著减低,且与浓度呈正相关,GSH＋MPP^ 组轻度减低,而PTP组不同降低,此外,用MPP^ 处理后MES23．5细胞线粒体△Ψm明显下降和ROS生成显著增加,结论：线粒体△Ψm下降及ROS生成增多可能与了MPP^ 诱导黑质DNA能神经元死亡的机制。     

Transgenic mice with increased Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase activity are resistant to N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced neurotoxicity.

Administration of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to mammals causes damage to the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway similar to that observed in Parkinson's disease. It has been suggested that the mechanism by which MPTP kills dopamine (DA) neurons involves an energy crisis due to the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I. In addition, superoxide radicals (O2-), generated subsequent to the blockade of mitochondrial complex I, may also be involved in MPTP-induced neurotoxicity. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a scavenger enzyme that protects cells from the hazard of O2- radicals. To evaluate further the role of O2- radical in MPTP-induced toxicity, we tested the effects of MPTP in transgenic mice with increased SOD activity. In nontransgenic littermates with normal SOD activity, MPTP injection causes a marked reduction in striatal levels of DA and its metabolites as well as in striatal and nigral 3H-DA uptake; these findings are consistent with a loss in dopaminergic neurons. In contrast, in transgenic mice with increased SOD activity, MPTP injection does not cause any significant changes either in levels of DA and metabolites or in 3H-DA uptake. We show that this lack of toxicity is not due to a lower delivery of MPTP to the brain following its intraperitoneal injection, to reduced brain biotransformation of MPTP to N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+), to diminished striatal mitochondrial monoamine oxidase B activity, to decreased synaptosomal uptake of MPP+, to lower potency of MPP+ to inhibit the complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, or to faster brain elimination of MPP+. These results suggest that increased SOD activity is, most likely, the protective factor that confers resistance to transgenic mice against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity. Thus, this study provides further evidence that some of the deleterious effects of MPTP may be mediated by O2- radicals. The similarity between the MPTP model and Parkinson's disease further raises the possibility that oxy-radicals may play a significant role in the etiology of this neurodegenerative disorder.     

Selective decrease in extracellular DOPAC concentrations in rat striatum following in vivo dialysis with low concentrations of MPP+.

Using the technique of in vivo dialysis, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the neurotoxic metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), was applied to the rat striatum and the effects of this treatment on the efflux of striatal dopamine (DA) and metabolites were monitored. The inclusion of low concentrations of MPP+ (1 and 10 microM) in the dialysis solution caused a progressive decrease in the efflux of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), the major deamination product of DA, while homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) remained unchanged. Unlike the effects of dialysis with millimolar concentrations of MPP+, a large increase in the efflux of striatal DA was not observed. The effect of dialysis with 1 microM MPP+ was blocked if 1 microM GBR 12909, a specific DA reuptake blocker, was included in the dialysis fluid, suggesting uptake of MPP+ into striatal DA terminals mediated this effect.     

The effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine on presynaptic dopamine uptake sites in the mouse striatum

The effects of the specific dopaminergic neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), were studied on the kinetics of [3H]mazindol binding to striatal membranes of C57 black mice. This radioligand was used to label dopamine uptake sites and when administered in vivo, MPTP caused an irreversible, non-competitive inhibition of mazindol binding, consistent with damage to dopaminergic terminals. This effect was abolished by pretreatment with pargyline, a MAOB inhibitor, suggesting that oxidation of MPTP to the pyridinium moiety, MPP+, is a necessary step for toxicity when mazindol binding is used as an end point. In keeping with these findings, pretreatment of mice with mazindol protected against the dopamine-depleting effects of MPTP in vivo. This data suggests that MPTP exerts its toxic effects via MPP+ which is concentrated intraneuronally via the dopamine uptake system. During this process the neurotoxin irreversibly inactivates the dopamine uptake sites.     

Intracerebroventricularly-administered 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion and brain-derived neurotrophic factor affect catecholaminergic nerve terminals and neurogenesis in the hippocampus,striatum and substantia nigra

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disease characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.A highly similar pattern of neurodegeneration can be induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP) or 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion(MPP+),which cause the death of dopaminergic neurons.Administration of MPTP or MPP+ results in Parkinson's disease-like symptoms in rodents.However,it remains unclear whether intracerebroventricular MPP+ administration affects neurogenesis in the substantia nigra and subgranular zone or whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor alters the effects of MPP+.In this study,MPP+(100 nmol) was intracerebroventricularly injected into mice to model Parkinson's disease.At 7 days after administration,the number of bromodeoxyuridine(Brd U)-positive cells in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus increased,indicating enhanced neurogenesis.In contrast,a reduction in Brd U-positive cells was detected in the substantia nigra.Administration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(100 ng) 1 day after MPP+ administration attenuated the effect of MPP+ in the subgranular zone and the substantia nigra.These findings reveal the complex interaction between neurotrophic factors and neurotoxins in the Parkinsonian model that result in distinct effects on the catecholaminergic system and on neurogenesis in different brain regions.     

Heat shock proteins protect cultured fibroblasts from the cytotoxic effects of MPP

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺), the cytotoxic metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), has been shown to be toxic to a variety of cell types in culture. The addition of media containing 1 mM MPP+ to cultures of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts led to the gradual depletion of cellular ATP stores and subsequent cell death. A 12-min heat shock of the cells at 45°C, 3 h prior to the addition of MPP⁺-containing media, significantly attenuated cell death. Heat shock pretreatment led to an increased synthesis of all the major heat shock proteins (HSPs) in CHO cells. Further, the addition of the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, prevented the protective effect of heat shock pretreatment, indicating that this protection was dependent upon new protein synthesis. In additional experiments, a rat fibroblast cell line which has been stably transfected with, and constitutively expresses a cloned human HSP-70 gene, was found to be more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of MPP⁺ than the parental fibroblast cell line. These results indicate that HSPs are protective toward the deleterious effects of MPP+ and that their synthesis represents an important parameter in the neurotoxicity of MPTP.