Chronic intraventricular administration of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium as a progressive model of Parkinson's disease.

Animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) that more closely exhibit the chronic neuropathology seen in the human condition are needed in order to reveal processes involved with progressive neurodegeneration and for testing potential interventions for retarding dopamine (DA) neuronal loss. Here we describe the recently developed chronic rat model of PD in which 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+)) is infused chronically into the lateral cerebral ventricle. We review features of this model that include loss of nigral DA neurons, swollen and abnormal mitochondria, striatal inclusion-like bodies and microgliosis. Advantages as well as limitations of the model are addressed.