INHIBITION OF STRIATAL ENERGY-METABOLISM PRODUCES CELL LOSS IN THE IPSILATERAL SUBSTANTIA-NIGRA

This study examined whether damage to dopamine (DA) nerve terminals vi a inhibition of energy metabolism in the striatum would result in the retrograde loss of cell bodies in the substantia nigra. Infusion of 2 mu mol malonate into the left striatum of rats resulted in a 67% loss of striatal DA and a 40% loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive ne urons in the substantia nigra. No change in the number of Nissl-positi ve-TH-negative neurons was observed. These findings demonstrate the re trograde destruction of DA cell bodies in the substantia nigra resulti ng from energy impairment at their terminal projection site. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.