Neuropathological changes induced by neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine in male Swiss albino mice

Abstract

We investigated the level of dopamine in the striatum of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated male Swiss albino mice (40 mg/kg), after 7 days, we measured the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants, the reduced glutothione (GSH), enzymatic anti-oxidants such as superoxide dismulase (SOD), cataloes (CAT) and also observed the histopathology of the mesencephalic areas after MPTP treatment by transmission electron microscopy (EM). We found that the MPTP treatment in mice caused a significant depletion of GSH, increased the specific activity of SOD, CAT, and thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances (TBARS) in mesencephalic region after 7 days of treatment, and decreased the striatal dopamine level to 75% by 7 days of MPTP treatment. The EM results also suggested that the mitochondrial alternation, nuclear membrane invagination, condensation of cytoplasm, vacuoles and perinuclear inclusion in the cytoplasm, and nuclear membrane disappearance were observed in MPTP-treated mice.