Question

which compounds can be used to induce Parkinson-like illness in rats and/or mice?

Answer 1

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative movement disorder. Pharmacological animal models are invaluable tools to study the pathological mechanisms of PD. Currently, invertebrate and vertebrate animal models have been developed by using several main neurotoxins, such as 6-hydroxydopamine, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, paraquat, and rotenone.

Various neurotoxin-based models of PD exhibiting notable degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons have been developed, such as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), paraquat, and rotenone. Unfortunately, none of those neurotoxic models perfectly reproduces all of the PD features

6-OHDA is more usually used to induce parkinsonism in rats than in mice because it is difficult to target small brain structures, such as the SNc or medial forebrain bundle (MFB).

MPTP can be used to model PD in rodents, particularly in mice. MPTP could induce oxidative stress, ROS, and energy failure, which are involved in the neuronal death. Increasing number of studies have suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction, activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress, and impaired autophagy are involved in MPTP-mediated neuronal apoptosis in SNc

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