title: Heptachlor induced nigral dopaminergic neuronal loss and Parkinsonism-like movement deficits in mice.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease. In this study, we examined the neurotoxicity of an organochlorine pesticide, heptachlor, in vitro and in vivo. In cultured SH-SY5Y cells, heptachlor induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. When injected into mice intraperitoneally on a subchronic schedule, heptachlor induced selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. In addition, the heptachlor injection induced gliosis of microglia and astrocytes selectively in the ventral midbrain area. When the general locomotor activities were monitored by open field test, the heptachlor injection did not induce any gross motor dysfunction. However, the compound induced Parkinsonism-like movement deficits when assessed by a gait and a pole test. These results suggest that heptachlor can induce Parkinson's disease-related neurotoxicities in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seokheon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joohyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Soon
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shin Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005684:Gait; D006533:Heptachlor / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D051379:Mice; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D006533:Heptachlor