DIFFERENCES IN THE RESERPINE-SENSITIVE STORAGE IN-VIVO OF 1-METHYL-4-PHENYLPYRIDINIUM IN RATS AND MICE MAY EXPLAIN DIFFERENCES IN CATECHOLAMINE TOXICITY TO 1-METHYL-4-PHENYL-1,2,3,6-TETRAHYDROPYRIDINE

Administration of reserpine, an inhibitor of vesicular catecholamine s torage, differentially reduced the accumulation of MPP+ formed from MP TP in rats and mice. The effects were most pronounced in the adrenal g land for either species. In rats, reserpine decreased striatal and hip pocampal MPP+ levels while in mice reserpine did not affect the dispos ition of MPP+ in the striatum but decreased hippocampal MPP+. The data suggest that mice may be more sensitive to the toxicant because less striatal MPP+ appears to be stored in the reserpine-sensitive storage vesicle.