An endogenous MPTP-like dopaminergic neurotoxin, N-methyl(R)salsolinol, in the cerebrospinal fluid decreases with progression of Parkinson's disease.

There have been an increasing number of evidences indicating that dopamine-derived N-methyl(R)salsolinol is an endogenous MPTP-like neurotoxin to cause Parkinson's disease. In the cerebrospinal fluid from newly diagnosed untreated patients with Parkinson's disease, the level of this toxin was found to increase significantly, compared to control and a disease control, multiple system atrophy. The effects of the disease duration and the medication on the level of N-methyl(R)salsolinol were studied from the same patients. After about a 2-year period, the level was significantly reduced. The depletion of dopamine neurons by the disease progression may account for the reduction of the neurotoxin level, whereas L-DOPA therapy did not seem to affect the level of this toxin, even though the enhanced dopamine turnover. The results suggest that N-methyl(R)salsolinol level in the cerebrospinal fluid may indicate remaining dopamine neurons in the parkinsonian brain.