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Abstract
The histochemical, biochemical and behavioural consequences of MPTP administration
in C-57 black mice was assessed 0.5 h, 24 h and 7 days after the last injection of
this drug administered daily for 10 days during a 12 day period (30 mg/kg/injection
or vehicle). A slight but significant impairment of open field performance was observed
at 0.5 h after the last injection of MPTP while a facilitation of locomotory behaviour
was observed only in the 24 h post-injection group. Striatal dopamine levels were
reduced to 14, 18 and 27% of control levels in the 0.5 h, 24 h and 7 day post-MPTP
treated groups, respectively. Histochemical assessment was in agreement with the biochemical
assay results in that all MPTP treated animals showed severe depletion of striatal
terminal fields. Other terminal fields were occasionally affected by MPTP treatment
and only rarely was any change in the fluorescence or morphology of nigral cell bodies
seen. Accumulation of amines in the degenerating amine-containing axons which traverse
the lateral hypothalamus was not seen in any of the MPTP treated animals. These results
indicate that, in the C-57 black mouse, MPTP causes a depletion of striatal dopamine
without causing nigral cell loss or axon swelling as is observed with other experimental
treatments such as 6-hydroxydopamine. Consistent with this is the behavioural data,
indicating that severe deficits in motor function which are associated with nigrostriatal
cell loss were not seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)