1. Changes in the content of striatal interleukins (IL-1 beta and IL-6) and
serum corticosterone in relation to deterioration of the dopaminergic syst
em induced by 1-methyl-1-phenyl-2,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; a dopamin
ergic neurotoxin; 20 mg/kg i.p., four administrations/12 h) in C57BL/6J mic
e were investigated,
2. Striatal dopamine, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and serum corticosterone were measure
d on days 1 and 7 post-MPTP.
3, Dopamine depletion was more severe on day 7 than on day 1 post-treatment
.
4. Increases in IL-6 were observed on days 1 and 7 post-MPTP. The increase
in striatal IL-6 content varied with the extent of dopamine depletion, alth
ough the IL-1 beta concentration remained unchanged compared with control v
alues on days 1 and 7 post-treatment.
5. Serum corticosterone was not different from control on day 1 post-MPTP.
However. marked increases in the serum corticosterone were observed on day
7 post-treatment.
6, These results suggest that changes in striatal IL-6 and serum corticoste
rone are closely associated with the severity of MPTP-induced dopaminergic
degeneration.