Neurotoxic effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and methamphetamine in several strains of mice.

We previously reported that C57 black mice were more sensitive than several other strains of mice to the neurotoxic actions of MPTP. We now report that a significantly higher amount of the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium species, a very toxic metabolite of MPTP, was found in the brains of C57 black mice than in the brains of CF-W or CD-1 mice, two strains of mice which are less sensitive to MPTP. In addition, we also found that there were strain differences in the response of mice to the neurotoxic actions of methamphetamine with CF-W mice being more sensitive to methamphetamine than C57 black mice.