Effects of nimodipine on the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced depletions in the biogenic amine levels in mice.

In view of the calcium hypothesis the effect of nimodipine (Bay e 9736, CAS 66085-59-4) on the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced depletions in dopamine and serotonin were investigated in C57-BL/6 mice. Oral treatment with nimodipine (5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg b.i.d., respectively, for 9 days) prior to, during and following administration of MPTP appeared to attenuate MPTP-induced neurochemical changes in a dose-related manner. The results suggest that nimodipine reduces MPTP-induced damages, especially in the serotoninergic system, through its calcium antagonistic effects.