Uptake of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and the N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) into fetal mouse brain through the placenta.
The neurotoxin N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was found to be taken up into fetal mice through the placenta from a maternal mouse. C57 black mice were mated and MPTP (30 mg/kg) was given intramuscularly at the 18th day of gestation. Definite amounts of MPTP were detected in fetal brains by assay using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at 1 h after MPTP injection, and much higher contents of MPTP were found in maternal brains, too. An oxidative product of MPTP, the N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+), was also detected in brains of both mother and fetus and its concentrations in their brains were followed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 h after MPTP injection. The time to reach the maximal MPP+ concentration in brains was different between mother and fetus; 1 h and 3 h respectively. In addition to brain, considerable amounts of MPP+ were found in fetal liver, maternal liver and kidney, and in the placenta.
Ohya
Y
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Naoi
M
M
Ochi
N
N
Mizutani
N
N
Watanabe
K
K
Nagatsu
T
T
D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010783:Photometry; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium