MPTP, MPDP+ and MPP+ cause decreases in dopamine content in mouse brain slices

MPTP causes a Parkinson's disease-like syndrome in which the dopamine content of the nigrostriatal system decreases. We have studied the relationship between physiological changes and dopamine content using a brain slice preparation developed for electrophysiological studies of corticostriate and nigrostriatal synaptic transmission. We report that MPTP, MPDP+ and MPP+ cause significant decreases in dopamine content of mouse brain slices. We also report that compounds (pargyline and GBR-12909) which block MPTP's toxicity in vivo and prevent non-reversible changes in synaptic transmission are not able to alter MPTP's ability to decrease slice dopamine contents. This indicates that the dopamine content in slices may not be causally related to the non-reversible decrease in synaptic transmission or in vivo neurotoxicity.