Dopaminergic dorsal raphe neurons in cats and monkeys are sensitive to the toxic effects of MPTP.
Tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemical analysis of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of severely parkinsonian MPTP-treated cats and cynomolgus monkeys revealed a marked loss of catecholaminergic neurons in this region. Cell loss was more extensive in the ventral portion of the nucleus with a relative sparing of neurons in the dorsal-most portions of the DRN. These results demonstrate that catecholaminergic neurons other than those in the ventral mesencephalon and the locus ceruleus are affected by the toxic effects of MPTP.
Unguez
G A
GA
Department of Neurology, Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192.
Schneider
J S
JS
D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000633:toxicity*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013045:Species Specificity; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*
D011725:Pyridines; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase