title: Pattern of dopaminergic loss in the striatum of humans with MPTP induced parkinsonism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the distribution of striatal dopaminergic function in humans with parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to determine if there is a caudate-putamen gradient as is seen in idiopathic Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We scanned nine humans exposed to MPTP with parkinsonism ranging from minimal to severe using [(18)F]fluorodopa (FD) and high resolution PET. The results were compared with those of 10 patients with Parkinson's disease and six normal subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the MPTP group there was an equal degree of reduction of dopaminergic function in the caudate and putamen. This was different from the greater putaminal than caudate loss in Parkinson's disease (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parkinson's disease is not caused by transient exposure to MPTP.
authors.affiliation: The Neurodegenerative Disorders Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. bsnow@ahsl.co.nz
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vingerhoets
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Langston
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tetrud
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sossi
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Calne
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine