Enhanced susceptibility to MPTP neurotoxicity in magnesium-deficient C57BL/6N mice

We evaluated the effect of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in C57BL/6N mice fed a magnesium (Mg2+)-deficient diet. On the 3rd week, Mg2+-deficient mice displayed increased anxiety- and depression-like behavior. In the Mg2+-deficient mice, a low does (10 mg/kg) of MPTP treatment decreased dopamine (DA) and its metabolites contents in the striatum, but not in control mice. The same dose of MPTP did not influence these neurochemical markers in the mice fed Mg2+-deficient diet for 1 week which did not exhibit the altered emotional behavior. These results indicate that Mg2+-deficient mice with altered emotional behavior appear to increase the susceptibility to MPTP neurotoxicity in C57BL/6N mice.