Abstract
We utilized a mice model of Parkinsonism: (1) to evaluate 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity; and (2) to evaluate whether manganese (Mn) exposure can affect MPTP-induced neurotoxicity. A 2 × 3 experimental design (MPTP ×± Mn) was as follows: SS, MPTP(-) × Mn(-); SLMn, MPTP(-) × low Mn(+); SHMn, MPTP(-) × high Mn(+); MpS, MPTP(+) × Mn(-); MpLMn, MPTP(+) × low Mn(+); MpHMn, MPTP(+) × high Mn(+). We administered MPTP (30 mg/kg per day) to male C57BL/6 mice intraperitoneally, once a day for 5 days. Subsequently, mice were treated with either 2 or 8 mg/kg of MnCl2.4H2O intraperitoneally, once a day for 3 weeks.
Blood and striatal Mn levels were elevated in the Mnexposed groups. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive (ir) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta were decreased significantly in the MPTP-exposed groups. The densities of TH-ir axon terminals in caudate-putamen (CPU) were significantly decreased in the MPTP-treated groups. However, Mn treatment did not affect MPTP neurotoxicity. The densities of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-ir astrocytes in the CPU or globus pallidus were significantly increased in the MPTP-treated groups. Concentrations of dopamine in the striatum were decreased significantly in the MPTP-exposed groups only, but Mn had no effect.
