title: Immunohistochemical localization of monoamine oxidase-B in the cat brain: clues to understanding N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity.
abstract: The immunohistochemical localization of monoamine oxidase-B in normal cat brain was examined. The enzyme was localized in both neural and nonneural elements of the cat brain. Neurons in the hypothalamus (lateral, dorsal, ventromedial, dorsomedial, and supraoptic nuclei), raphe system, dorsal tegmental nucleus, locus ceruleus, Kölliker-Fuse nucleus, dorsal parabrachial region, and central tegmental field were positive. No substantia nigra pars compacta, retrorubral, or ventral tegmental neurons stained positively. Glial cells (astrocytes) stained positively for monoamine oxidase-B in many regions of the central nervous system, however, there was a significantly greater number of monoamine oxidase-B-positive glial cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta than in other adjacent dopaminergic regions. Because nigra compacta neurons are specifically damaged by the neurotoxin MPTP and because the toxicity of the drug is expressed only in the presence of monoamine oxidase-B, it is possible that the preferential loss of substantia nigra pars compacta neurons in the cat brain may be related to the regional and cellular localization of monoamine oxidase-B.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Markham
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002415:Cats; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000032:analysis*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000032:analysis; D011725:Pyridines / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D011725:Pyridines; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase