Editing MPTP (section)

== Contribution of MPTP to research into Parkinson's disease ==
Langston ''et al.'' (1984) found that injections of MPTP in [[squirrel monkey]]s resulted in Parkinsonism, symptoms of which were subsequently reduced by [[levodopa]], the drug-of-choice in the treatment of Parkinson's disease along with [[carbidopa]] and [[entacapone]]. The symptoms and brain structures of MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease are fairly indistinguishable to the point that MPTP may be used to simulate the disease in order to study Parkinson's disease physiology and possible treatments within the laboratory. Mouse studies have shown that susceptibility to MPTP increases with age.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Jackson-Lewis | first1 = V. | last2 = Przedborski | first2 = S. | year = 2007 | title = Protocol for the MPTP Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease | journal = [[Nature Protocols]] | volume = 2 | issue = 1 | pages = 141–151 | doi = 10.1038/nprot.2006.342 | pmid = 17401348 | s2cid = 39743261}}</ref>

Knowledge of MPTP and its use in reliably recreating Parkinson's disease symptoms in experimental models has inspired scientists to investigate the possibilities of surgically replacing neuron loss through fetal tissue implants, [[subthalamus|subthalamic]] [[deep brain stimulation|electrical stimulation]] and [[stem cell]] research, all of which have demonstrated initial provisional successes.

It has been postulated that Parkinson's disease may be caused by minute amounts of MPP<sup>+</sup>-like compounds from ingestion or exogenously through repeated exposure and that these substances are too minute to be detected significantly by epidemiological studies.<ref>{{ cite web|url=http://www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk/ieh/pdf/w21.pdf |title=Pesticides and Parkinson's Disease - A Critical Review |publisher=Institute of Environment and Health, [[Cranfield University]] |date=October 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227162019/http://www.silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk/ieh/pdf/w21.pdf |archive-date=February 27, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2000, another animal model for Parkinson's disease was found. It was shown that the [[pesticide]] and [[insecticide]] [[rotenone]] causes Parkinsonism in rats by killing dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Like MPP<sup>+</sup>, rotenone also interferes with [[complex I]] of the [[electron transport chain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/research/parkinsonsweb/greenamyre_summary.htm |title=Summary of the Article by Dr. Greenamyre on Pesticides and Parkinson's Disease |publisher=National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke |date=9 February 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016034842/http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/research/parkinsonsweb/greenamyre_summary.htm |archive-date=October 16, 2007}}</ref>