[MPTP: a new chapter in the history of Parkinson's disease]

Abstract

Great interest has been recently raised by the discovery of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a meperidine analogue capable of producing an irreversible Parkinson's disease. On the basis of papers published during the last years, we examined the structural features and the specific mechanism of action of this substance at the level of dopaminergic neurons. Furthermore, the clinical features of the experimental Parkinson model, obtained by means of MPTP inoculation in various animals and their similarities to the analogous human disease are described. We can conclude that the MPTP discovery enhances the hypothesis that Parkinson's disease can be also attributed to toxic factors.