title: Respiratory chain abnormalities in skeletal muscle from patients with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease is one of the commonest neurodegenerative disorders in Western society. Although the neuropathological changes have been well documented, the underlying biochemical defect is unknown. Toxins may play a part in the aetiology of this disorder. It has been shown that 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) produces a Parkinson-like syndrome in both man and primates and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP+), a metabolite of MPTP, inhibits NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. We studied mitochondrial respiratory chain function in skeletal muscle from patients with Parkinson's disease because, like brain, it has a high dependence on oxidative metabolism. Our results show low activity in all complexes studied (I, II and IV). The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the aetiology of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bindoff
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Birch-Machin
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Cartlidge
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Turnbull
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003580:Cytochromes / Q000378:metabolism*; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / Q000378:metabolism*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003580:Cytochromes; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); D014450:Electron Transport Complex III