Selective localisation of P450 enzymes and NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase in rat basal ganglia using anti-peptide antisera.

Environmental or endogenous toxins may cause nigral cell death in Parkinson's disease (PD) due to altered expression of P450 enzymes. In rat brain, immunohistochemistry using anti-peptide antisera showed NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase and CYP2B1/2 in various hypothalamic nuclei and CYP1A1 in the globus pallidus, but neither enzyme was expressed in substantia nigra. No specific immunoreactivity to CYP2D1 or CYP3A1 was found in any brain region examined. In contrast, CYP2E1 was expressed in substantia nigra and in striatal blood vessels. Since CYP2E1 is associated with free radical production, it may contribute to the oxidative stress believed to underlie nigral degeneration.