Proteome analysis of substantia nigra and striatal tissue in the mouse MPTP model of Parkinson's disease.

The dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) replicates many of the pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD) in mice via selective destruction of dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra and striatum. Although MPTP has been widely used to study downstream effects following the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, the underlying mechanisms of MPTP action remain poorly understood. To determine the underlying mechanisms of MPTP action at the protein level, a 2-DE-based proteomics approach was used to evaluate the changes in protein expression in substantia nigra and striatal tissue in C57BL/6 mice after MPTP administration. We identified nine proteins that were markedly altered and are likely to be involved in mitochondrial function, heat shock protein activity, and which contribute enzyme activities for energy metabolism and protein degradation.