1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) accelerates the accumulation of lipofuscin in mouse adrenal gland.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a neurotoxin that causes degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Recently, we reported that it also destroys dopaminergic neurons in retina and it induces the accumulation of lipofuscin. We now present morphologic and biochemical evidence that MPTP causes the accumulation of lipofuscin in the adrenal cortex. We speculate, that generation of free radicals during the transformation of MPTP to metabolites might be responsible for lipofuscin formation. MPTP-induced accumulation of lipofuscin may be a useful model for studying the biochemistry of the aging process.