Selective decrease of immunoreactive tyrosine hydroxylase in nigrostriatum of adult male rats after N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine treatment.

Several laboratories have reported that N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine causes damage to the nigral dopamine neurons of man, monkey, and mouse. Controversial data suggest that a rat model of Parkinsonism may be possible. Although loss of dopamine cells has not been detected in the rat brain, our immunocytochemical studies show that immunoreactive tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme which synthesizes dopamine, is significantly reduced in concentration, or its antigenicity altered, in substantia nigra/pars compacta as well as the caudate nucleus. Optical density measurements demonstrate the reduction or alteration of immunoreactive tyrosine hydroxylase in nigro-striatal neurons, indicating that axonal terminals, as well as parent perikarya, may be sensitive to the drug. After treatment, abnormal morphological remodelling may result in the affected neuronal processes, perhaps indicating sublethal toxicity, followed by slow recovery. Despite the lack of nigral cell death, it is proposed that the present data support the use of the rat as a model to investigate the early effects of Parkinsonism induced by this agent, and the biological mechanisms of cellular recovery.