Striatal concentrations of vesicular monoamine transporters are identical in MPTP-sensitive (C57BL/6) and -insensitive (CD-1) mouse strains.

Sensitivity to the neurotoxic actions of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) varies greatly among strains of mice. The numbers of vesicular monoamine transporters was examined in various brain regions of MPTP-sensitive (C57BL/6) and MPTP-insensitive (CD-1) mouse strains. In vivo radioligand binding to the vesicular monoamine transporter was studied using [11C]methoxytetrabenazine, and in vitro Bmax values determined using [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine autoradiography. Using either technique, no significant differences between the two strains were seen in the striatal binding of these radioligands to the vesicular monoamine transporter. The in vivo binding of radioligands to this transporter in the striatum was also not gender dependent. The relative resistance of CD-1 mice to the neurotoxic effects of peripheral MPTP administration thus does not appear to be a result of enhanced protection by higher levels of vesicular storage in dopaminergic neurons of the striatum.