Nicotine suppresses 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion-induced hydroxyl radical generation in rat striatum.

The present study examined the ability of antioxidant effects of nicotine on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+))-induced hydroxyl radical (*OH) formation of rat striatum. Rats were anesthetized and sodium salicylate in Ringer's solution (0.5 nmol/microl per min) was infused through a microdialysis probe to detect the generation of.OH as reflected by non-enzymatic formation trapped as 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) in the striatum. MPP(+) enhanced generation of.OH formation trapped as DHBA. However, nicotine (100 microM) significantly suppressed.OH formation induced by MPP(+). Iron (II) (2, 5 and 10 microM) increased the levels of DHBA in a concentration-dependent manner. However, in the presence of nicotine (100 microM), the effect of nicotine was suppressed. These results suggest that nicotine has a preventive effect on.OH generation by MPP(+) in rat striatum.