Transient nigral ubiquinone depletion after single MPTP administration in mice.

The administration of a single injection of 30 mg/kg MPTP to mice produces at 1 hr, a transient significant decrease of the reduced ubiquinol Q10 in the substantia nigra that is normalized afterwards. This suggests a transient stress imposed by MPTP (or more likely MPP+) in the mitochondrial respiratory and/or oxidoreducing system, located in close proximity to the NADH system.