Increased susceptibility to MPTP toxicity in middle-aged rhesus monkeys

• Published in: Neurobiology of aging Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 931 - 937
• Main Authors: Ovadia, Aliza, Zhang, Zhiming, Gash, Don M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Inc 1995; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Age Factors; Aging - physiology; AgingBasal ganglia; Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Female; Macaca mulatta; Medical sciences; MPTP Poisoning; MPTPDopamine; Neurology; Nonhuman primates; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson's disease; Rhesus monkeys; MPTPDopamine; AgingBasal ganglia; Parkinson's disease; Nonhuman primates; Rhesus monkeys; Nervous system diseases; Senescence; Dopamine; Monkey; Parkinson disease; Cytotoxicity; Basal ganglion; Catecholamine; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Neurotoxin; Neurotransmitter; Primates; Degenerative disease
• ISSN: 0197-4580; 1558-1497
• DOI: 10.1016/0197-4580(95)02012-8

In the present study, age-associated effects of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administered via the right carotid artery were evaluated pre- and post-MPTP treatment in 26 female rhesus monkeys ranging in age from young adulthood to middle age (5 to 23 years old). A significant inverse correlation was seen between age and MPTP dose needed to produce stable, moderate parkinsonian features. Rhesus in the 5- to 9-year-old group required approximately three times the amount of MPTP as 20- to 23-year-old animals. Even though they received less MPTP, the older animals consistently displayed more severe bradykinesia, upper limb rigidity, and balance and gait abnormalities. Prior to MPTP treatment, home cage activity levels were strongly age dependent, with animals in the 10- to 19-year and 20- to 23-year groups displaying significantly less daytime activity than 5- to 9-year-old rhesus. Home cage activity levels tended to decrease in all age groups following MPTP treatment, but significant decreases were only measured in daytime activity in the 10- to 19 and 20- to 23-year age groups.