Presence of reactive microglia in monkey substantia nigra years after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine administration.
This report describes the presence of reactive microglia, the accumulation of extracellular melanin, and the extensive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of monkeys administered 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) 5 to 14 years before death. This evidence of chronic neuroinflammation years after MPTP exposure is similar to that previously reported in humans. The monkeys were drug free for at least 3 years before death, indicating that a brief exposure to MPTP had instituted an ongoing inflammatory process. The mechanism is unknown but could have important implications regarding the cause of Parkinson's disease and possible approaches to therapy.
Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3. mcgeerpl@interchange.ubc.ca
Patrick L
PL
McGeer
Claudia
C
Schwab
Andre
A
Parent
Doris
D
Doudet
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000473:pathology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D008543:Melanins