title: The effect of dopamine on MPTP-induced rotarod disability.
abstract: Dopamine depletion in Parkinson's disease (PD) results in bradykinesia and tremor. Therapeutic administration of the dopamine precursor, l-Dopa, alleviates these symptoms but dyskinesia's can manifest with chronic treatment. In the MPTP toxin mouse model of PD, lesion severity is often assessed by the rotarod behavioral assay. Dopamine depletion by MPTP is thought to induce rotarod behavioral decline. Here we surveyed rotarod behavior and striatal dopamine at timed intervals post-MPTP. Paradoxically, rotarod disability coincided with gradual striatal dopamine restoration. l-Dopa supplementation exacerbated rotarod disability, whereas dopamine antagonism restored performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  dopamine restoration, not depletion, precipitates rotarod disability after MPTP intoxication, and caution should be applied when using this assay for MPTP.
authors.affiliation: Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Kenneth Myer Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayton
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Adlard
authors.forename: Ashley I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cherny
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; C534628:SCH 23390; D007980:Levodopa; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D004298:Dopamine