Older dopaminergic neurons do not recover from the effects of MPTP.
Recent studies have shown that dopaminergic neurons in young mature mice recover fully from toxic injury induced by MPTP. The aim of the present study was to assess whether or not older dopaminergic neurons were capable of similar recovery. We now report that older dopaminergic neurons do not recover from the effects of MPTP. This suggests that with age, neurons in the nigrostriatal system begin to lose their regenerative capacity. This phenomenon could underlie the process of neuronal degeneration known to occur in a number of age-related diseases, including Parkinson's disease.
D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors
D011725:Pyridines; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D004298:Dopamine