Neuroprotective effect of riluzole in MPTP-treated mice

Driving GDNF expression: The green and the red traffic lights

“…Riluzole also delays the appearance of parkinsonian motor abnormalities in a chronic monkey model of MPTP toxicity (Bezard et al, 1998), and exerts neuroprotective and palliative effects on an acute model in the same species (Benazzouz et al, 1995). In mice, riluzole antagonizes the MPTP-induced decrease in dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels in the striatum and, by immunohistochemistry, riluzole was shown to protect against MPTP-induced neuronal damage in the substantia nigra (Araki et al, 2001). Since MK-801 treatment prevents the MPTP-induced decrease in DOPAC levels, but not in dopamine levels in the striatum (Araki et al, 2001), the inhibition of NMDA receptors is not the only neuroprotective action of riluzole against MPTP-induced striatal dopamine and DOPAC depletion in mice.…”

“…In mice, riluzole antagonizes the MPTP-induced decrease in dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels in the striatum and, by immunohistochemistry, riluzole was shown to protect against MPTP-induced neuronal damage in the substantia nigra (Araki et al, 2001). Since MK-801 treatment prevents the MPTP-induced decrease in DOPAC levels, but not in dopamine levels in the striatum (Araki et al, 2001), the inhibition of NMDA receptors is not the only neuroprotective action of riluzole against MPTP-induced striatal dopamine and DOPAC depletion in mice. Indeed, some studies suggest that riluzole may have direct antioxidant actions in cultured neurons (Koh et al, 1999;Storch et al, 2000).…”

Endogenous Activation of mGlu5 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Contributes to the Development of Nigro-Striatal Damage Induced by 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine in Mice

“…Thus, the identification of drugs that slow the progression of nigro-striatal damage will be a major breakthrough in the treatment of PD, particularly if these drugs can also relieve motor symptoms. The use of NMDA receptor antagonists has shown that endogenous excitotoxic mechanisms contribute to the development of nigro-striatal damage in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of parkinsonism (Turski et al, 1991;Brouillet and Beal, 1993;Lange et al, 1993;Srivastava et al, 1993;Lange and Riederer, 1994;Loschmann et al, 1994;Ossowska, 1994;Vaglini et al, 1994;Kanthasamy et al, 1997;Sonsalla et al, 1998;Araki et al, 2001; but see Kupsch et al, 1992;Michel and Agid, 1992;Sonsalla et al, 1992). However, a long-term treatment with NMDA receptor antagonists is limited by the occurrence of sedation, ataxia, deficits in learning and memory, and psychotomimetic effects, although the use of NR2B-selective antagonists or fast NMDA channel blockers may partially overcome these limitations (Parsons et al, 1999;Loftis and Janowsky, 2003).…”

MPTP Induces Systemic Parkinsonism in Middle-Aged Cynomolgus Monkeys: Clinical Evolution and Outcomes

“…One point needs to be explained; since ketamine was used in this study, and it is known to be an N-methyl-Daspartate antagonist, it may have had a protective effect on the MPTP-induced neurotoxic lesion [55,56] and hence might have slightly ameliorated the evolution of parkinsonian symptoms. But a systemic influence was avoided by using the same protocol in each monkey and so did not influence the overall profile of the results.…”