Chronic administration of neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (30 mg/kg) to C57BL/6 mice caused death of all animals within 7 days. Dipeptide analog of neurotensin active site injected with this neurotoxin protected the mice from death even after 2-week intoxication. When younger mice and lower dose of neurotoxin (25 mg/kg) were used, all animals survived, but after 2 weeks they developed parkinsonian syndrome with muscular rigidity, akinesia, decrease in motor and explorative activities. In mice treated with dipeptide analog of neurotensin active site these manifestations of oligokinesia caused by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine were less pronounced and the corresponding parameters approximated the control values. Possible mechanisms of neuroprotective action of neurotensin active site analog are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.