The effects of MPTP on the activation of microglia/astrocytes and cytokine/chemokine levels in different mice strains

The effects of MPTP on two mouse strains with different MPTP sensitivities and immunological backgrounds were compared: MPTP-sensitive C57BL/6 mice (B6) with a propensity for Th1 and less MPTP-sensitive BALB/c mice (BALB) with a propensity for Th2. It was found that acute MPTP treatment induced behavioral dysfunction, activated microglia/astrocytes, and increased the levels of IL-10, IL-12(p40) IL-13, IFN-γ, and MCP-1 in CSF in B6, but not in BALB. This suggests that variances in immunological backgrounds might be a major contributing factor in sensitivity differences to MPTP.