title: Alteration of neurotensin receptors in MPTP-treated mice.
abstract: We examined the sequential changes in neurotensin receptors in the striatum and substantia nigra of mouse brains lesioned with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) by receptor autoradiography, in comparison with the alterations in dopamine uptake sites. The mice received four intraperitoneal injections of MPTP (10 mg/kg) at 1-h intervals and then the brains were analyzed at 6 h and 1, 3, 7, and 21 days after the treatments. [3H]Neurotensin and [3H]mazindol were used to label neurotensin receptors and dopamine uptake sites, respectively. [3H]Neurotensin binding was significantly decreased in the striatum from 6 h to 21 days after MPTP treatment. In the substantia nigra, pars reticulata also showed a significant decrease in [3H]neurotensin binding from 3 to 21 days post-MPTP treatment. However, no significant change in [3H]neurotensin binding was observed in the pars compacta even after 21 days. On the other hand, [3H]mazindol binding was markedly decreased in the striatum and substantia nigra from 6 h to 21 days after MPTP treatment. These results indicate that neurotoxin MPTP can produce a severe decrease in neurotensin receptors and dopamine uptake sites in the striatum and substantia nigra of mice. Thus, our findings provide evidence that the dysfunction in neurotensin receptors may be involved in the degenerative processes causing Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanji
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoyama
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D020267:MPTP Poisoning; D008297:Male; D008454:Mazindol / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000378:metabolism; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D009498:Neurotoxins; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin; D009496:Neurotensin; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D008454:Mazindol; D004298:Dopamine