Premium
MPTP‐ but Not Methamphetamine‐Induced Parkinsonism Extends to Catecholamine Neurons in the Gut
Author(s) -
Natale Gianfranco,
Kastsiuchenka Olga,
Pasquali Livia,
Ruggieri Stefano,
Paparelli Antonio,
Fornai Francesco
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1432.015
Subject(s) - mptp , methamphetamine , meth , parkinsonism , neurotoxin , tyrosine hydroxylase , dopamine , catecholamine , parkinson's disease , endocrinology , medicine , chemistry , neuroscience , pharmacology , dopaminergic , biology , disease , monomer , organic chemistry , acrylate , polymer
Methamphetamine (METH) produces nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) loss, partly resembling that which occurs in Parkinson's disease (PD). In PD there is also a marked alteration in the gut. Given the similarities between the central DA denervation produced by METH and PD, in the present study we evaluated the alterations in the gut following upon METH administration. To compare these effects with those occurring in PD, we also administered the parkinsonism‐inducing neurotoxin MPTP. METH and MPTP were administered to mice, and after 7 days we investigated the immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase in nervous plexuses. These data indicate that METH did not alter the catecholamine‐containing axons and autonomic neurons, while MPTP markedly reduced these components.