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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000;68:313-316 doi:10.1136/jnnp.68.3.313
  • Paper

Pattern of dopaminergic loss in the striatum of humans with MPTP induced parkinsonism

  1. Barry J Snowa,
  2. Francois J G Vingerhoetsa,
  3. J William Langstonc,
  4. James W Tetrudc,
  5. Vesna Sossib,
  6. Donald B Calnea
  1. aThe Neurodegenerative Disorders Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, bUniversity of British Columbia, TRIUMF, Vancouver, BC, Canada, cThe Parkinson's Institute, 1170 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale, California, USA
  1. Dr Barry J Snow, Department of Neurology, Auckland Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland, New Zealand. Telephone 0064 25 314439; fax 0064 9 307 4924; email: bsnow{at}ahsl.co.nz
  • Received 28 July 1998
  • Revised 8 June 1999
  • Accepted 16 August 1999

Abstract

OBJECTIVES To examine the distribution of striatal dopaminergic function in humans with parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to determine if there is a caudate-putamen gradient as is seen in idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

METHODS We scanned nine humans exposed to MPTP with parkinsonism ranging from minimal to severe using [18F]fluorodopa (FD) and high resolution PET. The results were compared with those of 10 patients with Parkinson's disease and six normal subjects.

RESULTS In the MPTP group there was an equal degree of reduction of dopaminergic function in the caudate and putamen. This was different from the greater putaminal than caudate loss in Parkinson's disease (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS Parkinson's disease is not caused by transient exposure to MPTP.

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