FIGURE 12.

Effects of MPTP on dopaminergic neurons. Mesencephalic neurons cultured for 8 days were incubated with and without MPTP (50 μm) for 48 h. To assess the selective role of CYP2D6 in inducing MPTP-mediated toxicity, quinidine (10 μm), pargyline (5 μm), or deprenyl (10 μm) was added individually. Neurons were incubated with 1:1000 dilution of anti-mouse TH antibody, a marker for dopaminergic neurons and co-stained with DAPI (1 μg/ml). Emission from Alexa 488-conjugated anti-mouse IgG served as fluorescent signal. A, TH-stained dopaminergic neurons without treatment; B, neurons with MPTP treatment; C, neurons treated with MPTP and quinidine; D, neurons treated with MPTP and pargyline; E, neurons with MPTP and deprenyl (10 μm). F, presence of TH-positive neurons with treatments was determined as percentage of control (no treatment). Mean values ± S.E. was calculated based on three separate measurements. ** denotes p < 0.05.