MPTP hydrochloride is a brain penetrant dopamine neurotoxin, inducing Parkinson's Disease.

Pretreatment with 50 mM 4-phenylpyridine, reduces IC50 (concentration for 50% inhibition of twitch amplitude) values of MPTP from 53 to 18 mM and d-tubocurarine from 0.7 to 0.3 mM, respectively, in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm[3].

The toxic effect of MPTP can be completely abolished in vivo by treatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and potentiated by an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase[1]. Allopurinol potentiated the MPTP (35 mg/kg)-induced decrease in the DOPAC+HVA/DA ratio and increase in striatal AA oxidation of the rat[2]. Gas1 expressions are significantly elevated in the majority of the reactive astrocytes of the brains with LPS or MPTP insults in animal models[4].