Apoptosis inducing factor mediates caspase-independent 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium toxicity in dopaminergic cells

Parkinson's disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. These neurons are particularly sensitive to the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the active metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which causes parkinsonian syndromes in humans, monkeys and rodents. Although apoptotic cell death has been implicated in MPTP/MPP+ toxicity, several recent studies have challenged the role of caspase-dependent apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons. Using the midbrain-derived MN9D dopaminergic cell line, we found that MPP+ treatment resulted in an active form of cell death that could not be prevented by caspase inhibitors or over-expression of a dominant negative inhibitor of apoptotic protease activating factor 1/caspase-9. Apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) is a mitochondrial protein that may mediate caspase-independent forms of regulated cell death following its translocation to the nucleus. We found that MPP+ treatment elicited nuclear translocation of AIF accompanied by large-scale DNA fragmentation. To establish the role of AIF in MPP+ toxicity, we constructed a DNA vector encoding a short hairpin sequence targeted against AIF. Reduction of AIF expression by RNA interference inhibited large-scale DNA fragmentation and conferred significant protection against MPP+ toxicity. Studies of primary mouse midbrain cultures further supported a role for AIF in caspase-independent cell death in MPP+-treated dopaminergic neurons.     

Structure-neurotoxicity trends of analogues of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the cytotoxic metabolite of the dopaminergic neurotoxin MPTP

The dopaminergic neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) derives from its metabolism to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium cation (MPP+), which is then selectively accumulated in dopaminergic neurons. In an effort to assess the structural requirements governing MPP+ cytotoxicity, we evaluated dopaminergic toxicity of MPP+ analogues 3 weeks after their microinfusion into rat substantia nigra. We also evaluated the substrate suitability of MPP+ analogues for high-affinity dopamine uptake in striatal synaptosomes by measuring their ability to induce specific dopamine release. The intranigral neurotoxicity of MPP+ analogues in vivo correlates mainly with their in vitro inhibitory activity on mitochondrial respiration, consistent with a compromise in cellular energy production as the principal mechanism of MPTP-induced cell death. This study extends the structure-neurotoxicity data base beyond that obtainable using MPTP analogues, since many of these are not metabolized to pyridinium compounds. Such information is crucial to assess which possible endogenous or exogenous compounds may exert MPTP/MPP(+)-like toxicity.     

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine inhibits proton motive force in energized liver mitochondria

It is known that 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which induces Parkinson's-like disease in primates and humans, depletes hepatocytes of ATP and subsequently causes cell death. Incubation of rat liver mitochondria with MPTP and 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium ion (MPP+) significantly inhibited incorporation of 32Pi into ATP.MPTP and MPP+ inhibited the development of membrane potential and pH gradient in energized rat liver mitochondria, suggesting that reduction of the proton motive force may have reduced ATP synthesis. Since deprenyl, an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase, prevented the formation of MPP+ and inhibited the decrease in membrane potential caused by MPTP, but not that caused by MPP+, these effects of MPTP, as well as cell death, probably were mediated by MPP+. This mechanism may play a role in the specific loss of dopaminergic neurons resulting in MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease.     

Selective Destruction of Cultured Dopaminergic Neurons from Fetal Rat Mesencephalon by 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium: Cytochemical and Morphological Evidence

Dopaminergic neurons in cultures of dissociated cells from fetal rat mesencephalon were exposed to the principal metabolite of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium ion (MPP+), and several of its structural analogues. At concentrations between 0.01 and 0.1 microM, MPP+ inhibited catecholamine accumulation as visualized by cytofluorescence. Between 0.1 and 10.0 microM, MPP+ resulted in disappearance of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity without affecting other cells in the cultures. At concentrations higher than 10 microM, MPP+ was toxic to all cells present in the cultures. The effect of low concentrations of MPP+ on catecholamine cytofluorescence of the dopaminergic neurons was partially reversible. The intermediate concentrations produced irreversible structural changes of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells, resulting in complete disappearance of these neurons. The morphological changes were specific to the dopaminergic neurons and were not evident in other cells viewed with phase contrast microscopy. Of the structural analogues tested, the 1-ethyl analogue of MPP+ was effective in selectively destroying dopaminergic neurons in our culture system. The antioxidants L-acetyl-carnitine, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol failed to protect against MPP+ neurotoxicity when co-incubated with the toxin.     

Neurochemical and behavioural changes in zebrafish Danio rerio after systemic administration of 6-hydroxydopamine and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

Dopaminergic deficiency in the brain of zebrafish was produced by systemic administration of two catecholaminergic neurotoxins, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and the neurochemical and behavioural changes were characterized. The levels of dopamine and noradrenaline decreased significantly after the injection of MPTP and 6-OHDA. Corresponding to these changes, fish exhibited characteristic changes in locomotor behaviour, i.e. the total distance moved and velocity decreased after both neurotoxins. Tyrosine hydroxylase and caspase 3 protein levels were not altered after MPTP or 6-OHDA injections, as studied by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The catecholaminergic cell clusters suggested to correspond to the mammalian nigrostriatal cell group displayed normal tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity after the toxin treatment and did not show signs of DNA fragmentation that would indicate activation of cascades that lead to cell death. The results show that single systemic injections of MPTP and 6-OHDA induce both biochemical and behavioural changes in zebrafish, albeit failing to produce any significant morphological alteration in catecholaminergic cell clusters at the tested doses. This approach may be used for the screening of chemicals affecting the dopaminergic system. The model may be especially useful for evaluation of the role of novel genes in neurotoxicity, as a large number of zebrafish mutants are becoming available.     

Acute peripheral catecholaminergic changes in rat after MPTP and MPP+ treatment

The effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its main metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) on the peripheral catecholaminergic system of the rat were investigated. MPTP and MPP+ injections (20 mg/kg i.p.) caused a marked acute depletion of heart noradrenaline, up to 75% twelve hours after the administration, and a decrease of adrenal gland adrenaline. The time-course of the effect of MPTP and MPP+ is reported, together with a decrease in the tyrosine hydroxylase activity after MPTP treatment, more evident in the adrenal glands. Pargyline (50 mg/kg i.p.) is not able to prevent such a neurotoxic peripheral effect.     

Differential effects of L-deprenyl on MPP+- and MPTP-induced dopamine overflow in microdialysates of striatum and nucleus accumbens

The present studies investigated the effects of L-deprenyl, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) on the efflux of dopamine and its metabolites in microdialysates of striatum and nucleus accumbens in rats. L-Deprenyl or L-amphetamine perfusion into striatum had no effects on basal dopamine efflux, though L-deprenyl reduced the basal efflux of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid. MPP+ or MPTP perfusion into striatum significantly increased the dopamine efflux, and the action of MPTP was more potent than that of MPP+. Pretreatment with L-deprenyl antagonized the actions of MPP+ and MPTP. The striatal dopamine efflux of rats was gradually restored by itself after the overflow caused by 2-h perfusion of the dopaminergic neurotoxins, while L-deprenyl could not accelerate the recovery. Perfusion with L-deprenyl or L-amphetamine, but not pargyline, into nucleus accumbens increased the dopamine efflux in a dose-dependent fashion, which could be antagonized by haloperidol pretreatment. MPP+ or MPTP perfusion into nucleus accumbens also increased the dopamine efflux, and the action of MPTP was also more potent than that of MPP+. Pretreatment with L-deprenyl could not antagonize the actions of MPP+ and MPTP. These findings suggest that L-deprenyl, MPP+ and MPTP induce differential effects on nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways in vivo. L-Deprenyl has neuroprotective rather than neurorestorative action against MPP+- and MPTP-induced dopamine overflow from striatum. Further, L-deprenyl-induced dopamine overflow from nucleus accumbens may explain the amphetamine-like reinforcing property of L-deprenyl.     

MPP+ inhibits proliferation of PC12 cells by a p21(WAF1/Cip1)-dependent pathway and induces cell death in cells lacking p21(WAF1/Cip1).

The molecular and biochemical mode of cell death of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) is uncertain. In an attempt at further clarification we studied the effects of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the active metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), on dopaminergic PC12 cells. In humans and nonhuman primates MPTP/MPP+ causes a syndrome closely resembling PD. MPP+ toxicity is thought to be mediated by the block of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Treatment of undifferentiated PC12 cells with MPP+ primarily inhibited proliferation of PC12 cells and secondarily led to cell death after the depletion of all energy substrates by glycolysis. This cell death showed no morphological characteristics of apoptosis and was not blocked by treatment with caspase inhibitors. The inhibition of cell growth was not dependent on an inhibition of complex I activity since MPP+ also inhibited cell proliferation in SH-SY5Y cells lacking mitochondrial DNA and complex I activity (p0 cells). As shown by flow cytometric analysis, MPP+ induced a block in the G0/G1 to S phase transition that correlated with increased expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/Cip1) and growth arrest. Since treatment with 1 microM MPP+ caused apoptotic cell death in p21(WAF1/Cip1)-deficient (p21(-/-)) but not in parental (p21(+/+)) mouse embryo fibroblasts, our data suggest that in an early phase MPP+-induced p21(WAF1/Cip1) expression leads to growth arrest and prevents apoptosis until energy depletion finally leads to a nonapoptotic cell death.     

Comparison of the time courses of selective gene expression and dopaminergic depletion induced by MPP+ in MN9D cells

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons with unknown etiology. MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion) is the active metabolite of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which induces Parkinson's-like symptoms in humans and animals. MPTP/MPP+ produces selective dopaminergic neuronal degeneration, therefore, these agents are commonly used to study the pathogenesis of PD. However, the mechanisms of their toxicity have not been fully elucidated. Recently, we reported in a microarray study using a midbrain-derived dopaminergic neuronal cell line, MN9D, that MPP+ induced significant changes in a number of genes known to be associated with the dopaminergic system. In this study, we investigated the expression time courses of six genes using real-time RT-PCR, and compared them with the progressive dopaminergic depletion caused by MPP+. Our data showed that dopamine content was significantly decreased after 0.5h of MPP+ (200 microM) exposure and was completely depleted after 40 h. The expression of Gpr37, which is closely related to the pathogenesis of autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism, was up-regulated after 0.5h, and stayed up-regulated up to 48 h. Txnip, which is critical to the adjustment of cellular redox status, was down-regulated after 1h and stayed down-regulated up to 48 h. Ldh1 and Cdo1, which are also involved in oxidative stress, were down-regulated after 16 h and stayed down-regulated up to 48 h. Two pro-apoptotic genes, Egln3 and Bnip3, were down-regulated after 2 and 4h, and stayed down-regulated up to 48 h. These findings suggested that the time course of expression for multiple genes correlated with the dopaminergic depletion; and MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in MN9D cells could be used as a model to further explore the roles of these and other genes in the pathogenesis and possible treatment of PD.     

Infection with Murine Retrovirus Confers Resistance to the Neurotoxin 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium Ion in PC12 Cells

High concentrations of the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) are toxic to the catecholaminergic cell line PC12, derived from rat phenochromocytoma. Prolonged exposure of wild-type PC12 cells to 500 microM MPP+ yields toxin-resistant colonies at a frequency of 2 X 10(-4). These spontaneously arising MPP(+)-resistant cells are morphologically quite distinct from wild-type PC12 cells, and are lacking in most of their characteristic catecholaminergic properties. In contrast, among PC12 cells infected with the murine retrovirus ZIPNEOSV(X), 20% are resistant to the toxin MPP+, a resistance frequency approximately 1,000 times higher than for uninfected cells. The morphology and catecholaminergic phenotype of the virus-infected MPP+ resistant cells are quite similar to those of wild-type PC12 cells. The results presented in this study suggest a unique mechanism of MPP+ resistance in the infected PC12 cells which may be conferred by the presence and/or expression of the retrovirus ZIPNEOSV(X).     

Inhibitors of Mitochondrial Respiration, Iron (II), and Hydroxyl Radical Evoke Release and Extracellular Hydrolysis of Glutathione in Rat Striatum and Substantia Nigra

In this investigation, microdialysis has been used to study the effects of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and the active metabolite of the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), on extracellular concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (CySH) in the rat striatum and substantia nigra (SN). During perfusion of a neurotoxic concentration of MPP+ (2.5 mM) into the rat striatum or SN, extracellular concentrations of GSH and CySH remain at basal levels (both approximately 2 microM). However, when the perfusion is discontinued, a massive but transient release of GSH occurs, peaking at 5,000% of basal levels in the striatum and 2,000% of basal levels in the SN. The release of GSH is followed by a slightly delayed and smaller elevation of extracellular concentrations of CySH that can be blocked by the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) inhibitor acivicin. Low-molecular-weight iron and extracellular hydroxyl radical (OH*) have been implicated as participants in the mechanism underlying the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of MPTP/MPP+. During perfusion of Fe2+ (OH*) into the rat striatum and SN, extracellular levels of GSH also remain at basal levels. When perfusions of Fe2+ are discontinued, a massive transient release of GSH occurs followed by a delayed, small, but progressive elevation of extracellular CySH level that again can be blocked by acivicin. Previous investigators have noted that extracellular concentrations of the excitatory/excitotoxic amino acid glutamate increase dramatically when perfusions of neurotoxic concentrations of MPP+ are discontinued. This observation and the fact that MPTP/MPP+ causes the loss of nigrostriatal GSH without corresponding increases of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and the results of the present investigation suggest that the release and gamma-GT/dipeptidase-mediated hydrolysis of GSH to glutamate, glycine, and CySH may be important factors involved with the degeneration of dopamine neurons. It is interesting that a very early event in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease is a massive loss of GSH in the SN pars compacta that is not accompanied by corresponding increases of GSSG levels. Based on the results of this and prior investigations, a new hypothesis is proposed that might contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the degeneration of dopamine neurons evoked by MPTP/MPP+, other agents that impair neuronal energy metabolism, and Parkinson's disease.     

Potentiation by the Tetraphenylboron Anion of the Effects of 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine and Its Pyridinium Metabolite

The 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium species (MPP+) is the four-electron oxidation product of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and is widely assumed to be the actual neurotoxic species responsible for the MPTP-induced destruction of dopaminergic neurons. MPTP is oxidized by the enzyme monoamine oxidase-B to a dihydropyridinium intermediate which is oxidized further to MPP+, an effective inhibitor of the oxidation of the Complex I substrates glutamate/malate in isolated mitochondrial preparations. In the present study, the tetraphenylboron anion (TPB) greatly potentiated the inhibitory effects of MPP+ and other selected pyridinium species on glutamate/malate respiration in isolated mouse liver mitochondria. At 10 microM TPB, the potentiation ranged from approximately 50-fold to greater than 1,000-fold for the several pyridinium species tested. In other experiments, TPB greatly enhanced the accumulation of [3H]MPP+ by isolated mitochondrial preparations. This facilitation by TPB of MPP+ accumulation into mitochondria explains, at least in part, the potentiation by TPB of the above-mentioned inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. Moreover, TPB addition increased the amount of lactate formed during the incubation of mouse neostriatal tissue slices with MPTP and other tetrahydropyridines. The administration of TPB also potentiated the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of MPTP in male Swiss-Webster mice. All of these observations, taken together, are consistent with the premise that the inhibitory effect of MPP+ on mitochondrial respiration within dopaminergic neurons is the ultimate mechanism to explain MPTP-induced neurotoxicity.     

Role of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion formation and accumulation in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine toxicity to isolated hepatocytes

The parkinsonian-inducing compound 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is converted by isolated hepatocytes to its primary metabolite, the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-2,3-dihydropyridinium ion (MPDP+), and to its fully oxidized derivative, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+). Only the latter, however, accumulates in the cells. Incubation of hepatocytes in the presence of MPDP+ also results in the selective intracellular accumulation of MPP+. Conversion to MPP+ is more rapid and extensive after exposure to MPDP+, than with MPTP and the former is also more toxic. Addition of MPP+ itself is toxic to hepatocytes but only after a long lag period, which presumably reflects its limited access to the cell and its relatively slow intracellular accumulation. As previously shown with MPTP and MPP+, the cytotoxicity of MPDP+ is dose-dependent and is consistently preceeded by complete depletion of intracellular ATP. Similar to MPP+ but not MPTP, MPDP+ causes a comparable rate and extent of cytotoxicity and ATP loss in hepatocytes pretreated with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline. Pargyline blocks hepatocyte biotransformation of MPTP to MPP+, but it has no significant effect on MPP+ accumulation after exposure to either MPDP+ or MPP+. It is concluded that MPTP is toxic to hepatocytes via its monoamine oxidase-dependent metabolism and that MPP+ is likely to be the ultimate toxic metabolite which accumulates in the cell, causing ATP depletion and eventual cell death.     

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor is neuroprotective in a model of Parkinson's disease

We have recently shown that the hematopoietic Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) is neuroprotective in rodent stroke models, and that this action appears to be mediated via a neuronal G-CSF receptor. Here, we report that the G-CSF receptor is expressed in rodent dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons, suggesting that G-CSF might be neuroprotective for dopaminergic neurons and a candidate molecule for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Thus, we investigated protective effects of G-CSF in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-challenged PC12 cells and primary neuronal midbrain cultures, as well as in the mouse 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of Parkinson's disease. Substantial protection was found against MPP+-induced dopaminergic cell death in vitro. Moreover, subcutaneous application of G-CSF at a dose of 40 microg/Kg body weight daily over 13 days rescued dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons from MPTP-induced death in aged mice, as shown by quantification of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive substantia nigra cells. Using HPLC, a corresponding reduction in striatal dopamine depletion after MPTP application was observed in G-CSF-treated mice. Thus our data suggest that G-CSF is a novel therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, because it is well-tolerated and already approved for the treatment of neutropenic conditions in humans.     

Selective and Nonselective Effects of 1-Methyl-4- Phenylpyridinium on Oxygen Consumption in Rat Striatal and Hippocampal Slices

Insights into the etiology and pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease may derive from elucidation of the neurotoxic mechanisms of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its active metabolite, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). In previous studies, MPP+ provoked oxidation of cytochrome b and K+ leakage into the extracellular space of rat striatal slices. Magnitudes of these time-dependent responses were far greater than expected had the MPP+ effects been limited to dopaminergic terminals. To determine whether cytochromes become oxidized from K(+)-induced increases in ion transport activity or from electron transport inhibition at complex I, oxygen consumption was measured because this should be increased by the former and decreased by the latter mechanism. Low MPP+ concentrations (1 microM) decreased O2 consumption (approximately 40% in 3 h) in striatal slices. This decrease was diminished by mazindol and did not occur in hippocampal slices. High toxin concentrations (100 microM) inhibited oxygen consumption to a greater extent (approximately 60%) in striatal slices; this inhibition was still greater in hippocampal slices. These results support the hypothesis that acute effects of low ("selective") MPP+ concentrations require the presence of dopaminergic terminals to trigger a sequence of destructive metabolic events but that the metabolic consequences of MPP+ spread to neighboring cells. In contrast, high MPP+ concentrations nonselectively inhibit metabolic and ion transport activity without requiring the presence of dopaminergic terminals. These results also suggest that physiological effects of "selective" MPP+ concentrations extend to nondopaminergic cells.     

Accumulation of 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine in Cultured Cerebellar Astrocytes

Cultured cerebellar astrocytes rapidly accumulate 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) from the incubation medium, reaching a plateau within 10 min, whereas within that time negligible amounts of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) have entered the astrocytes. MPTP accumulation is essentially independent of temperature and is proportional to extracellular concentration at steady state: The steady-state concentration achieved within these cells is about 50-fold higher at relatively low extracellular concentrations. MPTP appears to accumulate intracellularly within lysosomes, because lysosomotropic agents such as ammonium chloride and chloroquine markedly diminish the accumulation. Moreover, a proton gradient is required, because MPTP accumulation is abolished by the hydrogen ion antiporter monensin. Over an interval of several days, MPTP is converted to MPP+ intracellularly, with a concomitant decrease in medium MPTP and increase in medium MPP+. A constant, small but significant amount of MPP+ is retained intracellularly over a 72-h interval. Increasing the medium MPTP concentrations results in increased conversion of MPTP and enhanced intracellular retention of MPTP and MPP+. Neither MPTP nor MPP+ is neurotoxic to cultured cerebellar astrocytes as determined by cell counts and rate of conversion of MPTP to MPP+.     

Distinct Effects of Rotenone, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium and 6-hydroxydopamine on Cellular Bioenergetics and Cell Death

Parkinson's disease is characterized by dopaminergic neurodegeneration and is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. The bioenergetic susceptibility of dopaminergic neurons to toxins which induce Parkinson's like syndromes in animal models is then of particular interest. For example, rotenone, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its active metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)), and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), have been shown to induce dopaminergic cell death in vivo and in vitro. Exposure of animals to these compounds induce a range of responses characteristics of Parkinson's disease, including dopaminergic cell death, and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production. Here we test the hypothesis that cellular bioenergetic dysfunction caused by these compounds correlates with induction of cell death in differentiated dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. At increasing doses, rotenone induced significant cell death accompanied with caspase 3 activation. At these concentrations, rotenone had an immediate inhibition of mitochondrial basal oxygen consumption rate (OCR) concomitant with a decrease of ATP-linked OCR and reserve capacity, as well as a stimulation of glycolysis. MPP(+) exhibited a different behavior with less pronounced cell death at doses that nearly eliminated basal and ATP-linked OCR. Interestingly, MPP(+), unlike rotenone, stimulated bioenergetic reserve capacity. The effects of 6-OHDA on bioenergetic function was markedly less than the effects of rotenone or MPP(+) at cytotoxic doses, suggesting a mechanism largely independent of bioenergetic dysfunction. These studies suggest that these dopaminergic neurotoxins induce cell death through distinct mechanisms and differential effects on cellular bioenergetics.     

Effects of 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl- 1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine and 1 -Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium Ion on ATP Levels of Mouse Brain Synaptosomes

Mouse brain synaptosomes, essentially devoid of mitochondrial contamination, were used as a model to study the effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its toxic metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) on the levels of ATP of neuronal terminals. Similar to known inhibitors of ATP synthesis, both MPTP and MPP+ caused a dramatic depletion of synaptosomal ATP. This depletion was dose dependent and occurred as a relatively early biochemical event in the absence of any apparent damage to synaptosomal membranes. MPP+ was more effective than its parent compound in decreasing ATP; it induced a significant loss at concentrations (10-100 microM) similar to those it reaches in the brain in vivo. MPTP-induced ATP depletion was completely prevented by the monoamine oxidase B inhibitor deprenyl, which, on the contrary, was ineffective against MPP+. As expected in view of the heterogeneous population of nerve terminals present in our synaptosomal preparations, the catecholamine uptake blocker mazindol did not significantly affect the ATP loss caused by both compounds. Data indicate that (1) administration of MPTP may cause a depletion of ATP within neuronal terminals resulting from the generation of MPP+, and (2) exposure to the levels of MPP+ reached in vivo may cause biochemical changes that are nonselective for dopaminergic terminals.     

4-Phenylpyridine (4PP) and MPTP: the relationship between striatal MPP+ concentrations and neurotoxicity

Because of the chemical and structural similarity between 4-phenylpyridine (4PP) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), the effects of 4PP alone and in combination with MPTP on striatal dopamine (DA) concentrations were studied in mice. 4PP did not deplete striatal DA, even when given in maximally tolerated doses (five times that required for MPTP neurotoxicity). However, when 4PP was administered prior to MPTP, it provided significant protection against the DA-depleting effects of MPTP. Additional experiments showed that 4PP pretreatment reduced striatal concentrations of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) - the putative toxic biotransformation product of MPTP, and that the concentration of this metabolite closely mirrored striatal DA depletion in MPTP-treated mice. In vitro studies established that 4PP probably lowers MPP+ concentrations by inhibiting the biotransformation of MPTP to MPP+. These observations could be of clinical interest in view of the lower incidence of cigarette smoking among Parkinson's disease patients, and the fact that 4PP is known to be present in cigarettes.     

A new in vitro approach for investigating the MPTP effect on DA uptake

Previous studies have shown that dopamine (DA) uptake was decreased after preincubation of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) in in vitro slice and synaptosome models. The present study, conducted with and without preincubation, attempted to determine whether inhibition results from a direct effect of neurotoxins on neuronal DA transporter or from an alteration of the transporter secondary to other toxic events. DA uptake was inhibited about 50% in the presence of MPTP+O(2) or MPP(+) (0.1, 1 and 5 mM) in rat striatal slices and synaptosomes. Such inhibition was obtained in synaptosomes preincubated for 150 min with MPP(+) and then washed. Inhibition of DA uptake was lower in slices preincubated with MPTP (5 mM)+O(2) and then washed (30%). Experiments in synaptosomes prepared from slices preincubated with MPTP or MPP(+) showed greater inhibition of DA uptake with MPTP. The results suggest that the inhibition of DA uptake in vitro by MPTP or MPP(+) results initially from a direct effect on the transporter during its penetration in nerve endings and subsequently from a transporter alteration related to toxic events. Thus, the preincubation of striatal slices followed by DA uptake measurement in synaptosomes would appear to be a good in vitro model for studying the dopaminergic toxicity of MPTP.