Protection against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced parkinsonism by the catecholamine uptake inhibitor nomifensine: behavioral analysis in monkeys with partial striatal dopamine depletions.

The neurotoxic effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine on dopamine neurons in monkeys were found to be reduced when the catecholamine uptake inhibitor nomifensine was administered during several weeks after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. The obtained protection was partial, leading to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced changes in dopamine levels to 8, 16, 52 and 59% of control values in the caudate nucleus and to 10, 16, 101 and 99% in the putamen of four animals, respectively. At the same doses, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine alone is known to deplete striatal dopamine levels to 0.5-7% of control values. Extra-nigrostriatal monoamine neurons were generally well protected by nomifensine. Neurological examinations revealed modest hypokinesia for a maximum of 10 days after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine in the two more severely affected animals. Reaction times of arm and eye movements were measured in a formal task in two of the monkeys having a moderate and a more important depletion of striatal dopamine, respectively. Only moderate impairments were seen during the initial 2 weeks after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine in both animals. All parameters recovered to control levels thereafter. At 3.5 and 5.5 months after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, task performance was significantly better than control. The speed of arm movement remained largely unaffected during all periods of experimentation. Spontaneous eye movements were reduced in frequency and amplitude during the initial 1-2 weeks after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, and recovered completely thereafter. These data suggest a substantial reduction of neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine by inhibition of catecholamine uptake. Particularly striking was the absence of major and permanent impairments in behavioral tests in which monkeys treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine alone were severely impaired. These results may warrant the development of new catecholamine uptake inhibitors for protecting nigrostriatal dopamine neurons against potential environmental toxins.