Imaging of Pre- and Post-synaptic Adaptations in the Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic System of MPTP-induced Parkinsonism

A selective destruction of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons by a systemic administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 1.5 to 2.5 mg/kg, i.v.) to rhesus monkeys causes a persistent parkinsonian syndrome (Burns et al., 1983). A near complete depletion of the striatal dopamine (DA) content induces an increase in the ratio of homovanillic acid to DA, a sprouting of the survived DA neurons, an up-regulation of …