Neural mechanisms mediating 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3, 6-tetrahydropyridine-induced parkinsonism in the monkey: relative contributions of the striatopallidal and striatonigral pathways as suggested by 2-deoxyglucose uptake.

The neural mechanisms which mediate parkinsonian symptoms have been investigated in the monkey by application of the 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) metabolic mapping technique to animals rendered parkinsonian by systemic administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). The results show that 2-DG uptake was dramatically increased in the globus pallidus, but not the substantia nigra pars reticulata, in parkinsonian monkeys compared to controls. This observation has been interpreted as indicating increased synaptic activity in the putaminopallidal, but not the caudatonigral, pathway which suggests a relatively greater involvement of the putaminopallidal pathway in relation to the motor manifestations of parkinsonism.