title: Dopamine-releasing action of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP+) in the neostriatum of the rat as demonstrated in vivo by the push-pull perfusion technique: dependence on sodium but not calcium ions.
abstract: This study examined the effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its metabolite, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP+) on the levels of dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in push-pull perfusates of the striatum in chloral hydrate-anaesthetized rats. In control animals the levels of DA and DOPAC remained stable for at least 6 h and responded rapidly to a depolarizing stimulus of 25 mM K+. This K+-induced DA release was Ca2+-dependent since no stimulation was observed when the striatal sites were perfused with high K+ in a Ca2+-free medium containing 2 mM EGTA thus verifying that the striatal sites were functionally active. MPTP (0.025 and 0.05 microgram/microliter) stimulated DA release and inhibited DOPAC output in a dose-related manner. MPP+ (0.01, 0.025 and 0.05 microgram/microliter) produced a more robust dose-dependent increase in DA levels in the perfusates; however, the level of suppression of DOPAC was similar to that in response to MPTP. The effect of MPP+ on DA release was attenuated by 10(-6) M benztropine, the DA re-uptake blocker and completely inhibited by 10 micrograms/kg i.p. benztropine and 10(-4) M ouabain, the Na+, K+-ATPase (Na pump) inhibitor. However, although these substances prevented the MPP+-induced release of DA, the levels of DOPAC in the perfusates did not recover and remained completely suppressed suggesting that MPP+ may inhibit extraneuronal rather than intraneuronal monoamine oxidase (MAO). Perfusion of the striatal sites with a Ca2+-free medium containing 2 mM EGTA did not prevent the MPP+-induced DA release indicating that MPP+ does not release DA from the striatal DA terminals by the Ca2+-dependent process of exocytosis. The responses of DA and DOPAC to 25 mM K+ were markedly suppressed in animals treated with MPTP and MPP+, these effects being most severe with the highest dose of MPP+. Moreover, this suppression of the K+-induced responses persisted in animals perfused with MPP+ in the presence of benztropine or ouabain, thus suggesting that MPP+ may have potent deleterious membrane effects. These studies have provided the first direct in vivo demonstration of the action of MPTP and MPP+ and the neuropharmacological basis of this action on DA metabolism in the rat striatum. The results show that the elevated levels of DA in the striatal perfusates are due to a direct action of MPTP and MPP+ on the nigrostriatal DA terminals and cannot be fully accounted for solely by their inhibition of MAO activity and/or inhibition of DA re-uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroendocrinology, AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Babraham, Cambridge, U.K.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sirinathsinghji
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Heavens
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001590:Benztropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D010477:Perfusion; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D011725:Pyridines; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D001590:Benztropine; D010042:Ouabain; D012964:Sodium; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium; D002118:Calcium; D004298:Dopamine