Behavioral and Histochemical Changes in MPTP-treated C57BL/6 Mice: A Model for Parkinson's Disease

ABSTRACT

The effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2. 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) on behavioral and histochemical changes were investigated in C57BL/6 mice. For immunocytochemis try, one group of mice received a dose of 2X30mg/kg of MPTP given 12hours apart and the other group 30mg/kg/day of MPTP for 7days. Locomotor activit,v was measured during 120minutes after a single injection of 30mg/kg of MPTP. We compared the numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cell bodies using immunocytochemical technique in the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area and locus ceruleus 10 days after the last injection of MPTP. There was a significant decrease in locomotor activity during 100minutes after injection of MPTP and the number of TH-positive cell bodies in the substantia nigra of the mice which received the dose of 30mg/kg/day for 7 days, but not in the ventral tegmental area or the locus ceruleus. But 30mg/kg of MPTP given 12 hours apart failed to produce a significant decrease in the number of TH-positive cell bodies in any three catecholamine nuclei examined. It is concluded that MPTP-treated C57BL/6 mice provide a useful model for studying characteristics of Parkinson's disease and the dose of 30mg/kg/day for 7 days is more effective in the animal model for Parkinson s disease in C57BL/6 mice.