Parkinsonism induced with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in cats: behavioral, biochemical and pathological studies.

Intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in four cats produced akinesia, bradykinesia, crouched posture, feeding difficulty, and so on, lasting for two weeks. Madopar therapy ameliorated these motor impairments. Reduction of the concentration of dopamine and its metabolites was determined in the substantia nigra and putamen by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Depletion of noradrenaline, serotonin and their metabolites was also seen. Loss of nerve cells and proliferation of glial cells in the substantia nigra were observed under the light microscope. The results indicate that MPTP-induced Parkinsonism in the cat provides an animal model that can be used for basic and therapeutic research on Parkinson's disease.