[Experimental research on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced parkinsonian animal models in the rhesus monkey and C57 black mouse].

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease of old age characterized by triad of akinesia, rigidity and tremor, reduction of dopamine (DA) content in the nigrostriatum, and severe degeneration of neuron in the substantia nigra. The significant changes after the use of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to rhesus monkeys and C57 black mice are (a) serotonin-like reactions and Parkinsonian symptoms in monkeys and "stickclimbing" disturbance in mice; (b) marked DA reduction in substantia nigra (72.5%), putamen (93.3%), caudate nucleus (91.2%) of monkeys and striatum (94%) of mice; (c) reduction of Met-enkephalin (75%) and Leu-enkephalin (66%) in mouse striatum; and (d) severe degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra of monkeys and mice. The results suggest that MPTP-treated monkey and C57 black mouse provides useful Parkinsonian animal models and produces behavioral, biochemical and histopathological changes similar to those of human PD.