title: Pargyline prevents MPTP-induced parkinsonism in primates.
abstract: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a neurotoxin which produces permanent parkinsonism in human and nonhuman primates. Treatment of squirrel monkeys with pargyline, a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, prevents both clinical and neuropathological evidence of the neurotoxic effects of MPTP. Pargyline also inhibits conversion of MPTP to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+), a metabolic step that occurs rapidly after administration of MPTP in animals not treated with pargyline. It is proposed that the conversion of MPTP to MPP+, possibly involving MAO, may be important for the neurotoxic effects of MPTP to take place, and MPTP itself may not be the neurotoxic agent.
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D010293:Pargyline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011725:Pyridines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012453:Saimiri; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011725:Pyridines; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds; C026560:1-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyridinium; D010293:Pargyline; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine