Morphological Analysis of Dopaminergic Neurons with Age Using Caenorhabditis elegans GFP Reporter Strains

Caenorhabditis elegans Model Studies Show MPP+ Is a Simple Member of a Large Group of Related Potent Dopaminergic Toxins

“…Accordingly, dopaminergic toxicological characteristics of a series of previously identified 11−13 MPP + scaffold-derived and similar in vitro dopaminergic toxins (Scheme 1) were examined in widely used transgenic C. elegans PD models. 17,26 We have specifically selected the transgenic BY250 [Pdat-1::GFP] C.elegans strain for our studies because of its popularity in many dopaminergic toxicological studies, 18,19,21,38,39 stable expression of strong GFP fluorescence in dopaminergic neurons, and developmental and behavioral 21,49 similarity to the wild-type N2 animals. The dopaminergic toxicity efficacy studies demonstrate that MPP + scaffold derived potent complex I inhibitors 2,2-cyanine, 4,4-cyanine, and PP−PP + derivative [5]-Cl (Scheme 1) 11 were significantly more lethal to dopaminergic neurons in comparison to the parent toxin, MPP + , in transgenic BY250 [Pdat-1::GFP] animals (Figure 1).…”

“…(c) Does intracellular dopamine (and/or its metabolites) contribute to the selective dopaminergic toxicities of these toxins? Accordingly, dopaminergic toxicological characteristics of a series of previously identified − MPP + scaffold-derived and similar in vitro dopaminergic toxins (Scheme ) were examined in widely used transgenic C. elegans PD models. , We have specifically selected the transgenic BY250 [Pdat-1::GFP] C.elegans strain for our studies because of its popularity in many dopaminergic toxicological studies, ,,,, stable expression of strong GFP fluorescence in dopaminergic neurons, and developmental and behavioral , similarity to the wild-type N2 animals.…”