Abstract
The enzymatic conversion of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion by monoamine oxidase-B is an essential step mediating the dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Since monoamine oxidase-B is located primarily in serotonergic neurons and astrocytes, the production of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion is thought to be extra-dopaminergic. This study provides evidence in support of this conclusion. Pretreating mice with fluoxetine (a serotonergic uptake inhibitor) before the administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine attenuated the dopaminergic neurotoxicity. This was not the result of a nonspecific inhibition of dopaminergic uptake, as fluoxetine pretreatment did not attenuate the dopaminergic neurotoxicity resulting from the intrastriatal administration of the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion. Further localization of the primary site of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion production as being astrocytes was provided by the failure of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine-induced serotonergic lesions to attenuate the neurotoxicity produced by administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, whereas, fluoxetine pretreatment in similarly lesioned subjects, continued to attenuate 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that astrocytes are a principle site of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion production.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-12 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Neural Transmission |
Volume | 76 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1989 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
Keywords
- Dopamine
- MPTP
- astrocyte
- fluoxetine
- serotonin