title: Neuroprotective effect of riluzole in MPTP-treated mice.
abstract: The neuroprotective effects of riluzole, a Na(+) channel blocker with antiglutamatergic activity, and MK-801, a blocker of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, were compared in the model of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced depletion of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels in mice. The mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with four administrations of MPTP (10 mg/kg) at 1 h intervals and then the brains were analyzed 1, 3 and 7 days after the treatment. Dopamine and DOPAC levels were significantly decreased in the striatum from 1 day after MPTP treatment. A severe depletion in dopamine and DOPAC levels was found in the striatum 3 and 7 days after MPTP treatment. Riluzole antagonized the MPTP-induced decrease in dopamine, DOPAC and HVA levels in the striatum. On the other hand, MK-801 prevented the MPTP-induced decrease in DOPAC levels, but not in dopamine levels in the striatum. An immunohistochemical study indicated that riluzole can protect against MPTP-induced neuronal damage in the substantia nigra. These results suggest that riluzole is effective against MPTP-induced neurodegeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuronal pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science and Medicine, Aoba-yama, Sendai 980-8578, Japan. tsuaraki@mail.cc.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D019782:Riluzole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D019782:Riluzole; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid