The protective effect of 1-tert.butyl-4,4-diphenylpiperidine against the nigrostriatal neurodegeneration caused by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induces a Parkinson syndrome in humans and in monkeys. In the rat, treatment with MPTP for a month resulted in permanently reduced dopamine and serotonin levels in the caudate nucleus. However, if the rats were pretreated with budipine, no MPTP-induced reduction in the dopamine and serotonin levels in the caudate nucleus was observed although one month recovery and observation time had elapsed between the last budipine injection and decapitation. It is surmised that budipine antagonises the neurotoxic effect of MPTP.