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Permanent human parkinsonism due to 1‐methy 1–4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)
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1985
Year
Motor DysfunctionNeurological DisorderPsychotropic MedicationLevodopa TreatmentNeurologyNeuropathologyMotor DisorderNeurochemistryMptp DiffersNeuropharmacologyDopaminePharmacologySevere ParkinsonismPermanent Human ParkinsonismMovement DisordersNeurodegenerative DiseasesParkinson DiseaseNeuroscienceMedicine
MPTP’s neurotoxicity is confined to the substantia nigra, suggesting that nigral damage alone can produce the full spectrum of Parkinson’s motor symptoms. Repeated intravenous MPTP caused irreversible, severe parkinsonism in seven patients, with levodopa and bromocriptine initially effective but leading to dyskinesias or on‑off fluctuations in most, indicating that on‑off phenomena arise independently of disease progression and that MPTP reliably induces a pure parkinsonian syndrome.
Seven patients developed chronic and severe parkinsonism after repeatedly injecting 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) intravenously. Levodopa and bromocriptine controlled the symptoms; however, within months, five of the seven patients experienced dyskinesias or on-off fluctuations. Therefore, neither prolonged levodopa treatment nor progressive disease was necessary for on-off phenomena. Because the neurotoxic effects of MPTP seem limited to the substantia nigra, damage to this system alone may produce all the motor features of Parkinson's disease. MPTP differs from other neurotoxins in that it consistently produces a pure parkinsonian state.