[A susceptible factor to acquire parkinsonism: sparteine oxidation polymorphism]

Abstract

Recently, we found that hepatic oxidative enzyme(s) functions to attenuate neurotoxic effects of MPTP by converting the agent to its inactive metabolite(s) and reducing the amount of MPTP reaching at the brain in mice. Since the factors affecting the neurotoxic effects of MPTP may be related to the cause of spontaneous Parkinsonism, we studied the oxidation polymorphism of sparteine in 49 patients with parkinsonism. Although no poor metabolizer was found in patients with Parkinsonism, mean metabolic ratio of the patients was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater than that of healthy subjects. Furthermore, the value showed a significantly negative correlation (r = -0.327, p less than 0.05) with the onset of age. In addition, the percentage of the presumed heterozygotes (metabolic ratio less than 1.4) was tended to be greater in the patients with the onset of age, younger than 49 years (10/31) than in those with the onset of age, older than 50 years (2/18). These results suggest that decreased capacity of sparteine oxidation may be one of the susceptible factors to acquire Parkinsonism in human.