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Direct intranigral injection of dopaminochrome causes degeneration of dopamine neurons.

Authors :
Touchette JC
Breckenridge JM
Wilken GH
Macarthur H
Source :
Neuroscience letters [Neurosci Lett] 2016 Jan 26; Vol. 612, pp. 178-184. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Dec 15.
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration of nigrastriatal dopaminergic neurons leading to clinical motor dysfunctions. Many animal models of PD have been developed using exogenous neurotoxins and pesticides. Evidence strongly indicates that the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) are highly susceptible to neurodegeneration due to a number of factors including oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidation of DA to a potential endogenous neurotoxin, dopaminochrome (DAC), may be a potential contributor to the vulnerability of the nigrostriatal tract to oxidative insult. In this study, we show that DAC causes slow and progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in contrast to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)), which induces rapid lesions of the region. The DAC model may be more reflective of early stresses that initiate the progressive neurodegenerative process of PD, and may prove a useful model for future neurodegenerative studies.<br /> (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1872-7972
Volume :
612
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Neuroscience letters
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
26704434
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2015.12.028