The use of in vivo brain dialysis of dopamine, acetylcholine, amino acids and lactic acid in studies on the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP).

The use of intracerebral brain dialysis in freely moving rats in neurochemical and neurotoxicological research is discussed and exemplified by studies on the neurotoxin MPTP. Intrastriatal administration of its toxic metabolite MPP+, via the dialysis tube, induced massive changes in the release of neurotransmitters and metabolites. Release enhancing effects could not be repeated by a second MPP+ perfusion and decreases in neurotransmitter or metabolite output were persistent. This indicates that MPP+ has irreversible, toxic effects on various neuortransmitter systems. The MPP+-induced release of DA has been characterized by studying the effect of pretreatment with various drugs, as well by comparison of the time courses of MPP+-induced DA release with those of amphetamine-induced DA release and of MPP+-induced lactate overflow.