Parkinson-like syndrome induced by continuous MPTP infusion: convergent roles of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and alpha-synuclein.

Abstract

In animals, sporadic injections of the mitochondrial toxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) selectively damage dopaminergic neurons but do not fully reproduce the features of human Parkinson's disease. We have now developed a mouse Parkinson's disease model that is based on continuous MPTP administration with an osmotic minipump and mimics many features of the human disease. Although both sporadic and continuous MPTP administration led to severe striatal dopamine depletion and nigral cell loss, we find that only continuous administration of MPTP produced progressive behavioral changes and triggered formation of nigral inclusions immunoreactive for ubiquitin and alpha-synuclein. Moreover, only continuous MPTP infusions caused long-lasting activation of glucose uptake and inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. In mice lacking alpha-synuclein, continuous MPTP delivery still induced metabolic activation, but induction of behavioral symptoms and neuronal cell death were almost completely alleviated. Furthermore, the inhibition of the ubiquitinproteasome system and the production of inclusion bodies were reduced. These data suggest that continuous low-level exposure of mice to MPTP causes a Parkinson-like syndrome in an alpha-synuclein-dependent manner.

• Authors: Francesco Fornai, Oliver M Schlüter, Paola Lenzi, Marco Gesi, Riccardo Ruffoli, Michela Ferrucci, Gloria Lazzeri, Carla L Busceti, Fabrizio Pontarelli, Giuseppe Battaglia, Antonio Pellegrini, Ferdinando Nicoletti, Stefano Ruggieri, Antonio Paparelli, Thomas C Südhof
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 102 Issue 9 Pg. 3413-8 (Mar 01 2005) ISSN: 0027-8424 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15716361 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Snca protein, mouse
• Synucleins
• Ubiquitin
• alpha-Synuclein
• 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
• Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

Topics

• 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (administration & dosage)
• Animals
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (metabolism)
• Parkinsonian Disorders (chemically induced, enzymology, metabolism)
• Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex (metabolism)
• Synucleins
• Ubiquitin (metabolism)
• alpha-Synuclein