Trace dosages of the neurotoxins MPTP and MPP+ may affect brain dopamine in vivo.

The present study has examined the effects of systemically administered MPTP and MPP+ upon striatal DA and Dopac of C57 mice, also treated concurrently with either saline or reserpine. MPTP followed by saline did not affect DA level but decreased that of Dopac only at 5.0 mg/kg and higher dosages. The potency of MPTP affecting DA increased greatly when the neurotoxicant was followed by either 5.0 or 10.0 mg/kg reserpine; MPTP at 0.10 mg/kg and higher dosages significantly reversed the DA depleting effects of reserpine. MPP+ (1.0 or 10.0 mg/kg) with saline did not affect either DA or Dopac. In contrast, MPP+ at 0.10 mg/kg and higher dosages, when followed by 10.0 mg/kg reserpine, dose-dependently enhanced the DA depleting effects of reserpine. In agreement with the earlier results obtained in vitro, the present study indicates that MPTP administration at trace level dosages may lead to an inhibition of MAO in vivo. The effect of systemically given MPP+ on DA, however, appears to be more complex in nature, conceivably comprised of actions at the striatal neurones including the intraneuronal vesicles and, possibly, at the substantia nigra which may affect striatum in turn. That MPP+ may have reached brain areas in these experiments is also indicated by the observation of a significant striatal level of 3H-MPP+ after its systemic administration. In conclusion, irrespective of MPTP and MPP+ action mechanisms, trace levels of these neurotoxicants appear to affect brain dopamine neurons.