Effect of serotonergic, corticostriatal and kainic acid lesions on the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in mice

In mice, prior destruction of striatal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons by intrastiatal or intraventricular injections of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine did not abolish or attenuate DA depletions produced in striatum by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). This suggests that although they contain monoamine oxidase type B, the oxidative conversion of MPTP to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium ion (MPP+) does not take place in 5-HT neurons. Likewise, decortication and kainic acid lesions did not prevent or enhance striatal MPTP-induced DA decrements suggesting that corticostriatal projections and striatal neurons are not involved in the mechanisms of MPTP neurotoxicity.