Exp Mol Med.  2014 Feb;46(2):e80. 10.1038/emm.2014.12.

Heptachlor induced nigral dopaminergic neuronal loss and Parkinsonism-like movement deficits in mice

• Hong S
• Hwang J
• Kim JY
• Shin KS
• Kang SJ

• KMID: 2155345
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/emm.2014.12

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease. In this study, we examined the neurotoxicity of an organochlorine pesticide, heptachlor, in vitro and in vivo. In cultured SH-SY5Y cells, heptachlor induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. When injected into mice intraperitoneally on a subchronic schedule, heptachlor induced selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. In addition, the heptachlor injection induced gliosis of microglia and astrocytes selectively in the ventral midbrain area. When the general locomotor activities were monitored by open field test, the heptachlor injection did not induce any gross motor dysfunction. However, the compound induced Parkinsonism-like movement deficits when assessed by a gait and a pole test. These results suggest that heptachlor can induce Parkinson's disease-related neurotoxicities in vivo.

Keyword

apoptosis; dopaminergic neuron; heptachlor; mitochondria; organochlorine; Parkinson's disease

MeSH Terms

Animals
*Apoptosis
Astrocytes/drug effects/pathology
Cell Line, Tumor
Cells, Cultured
Dopaminergic Neurons/*drug effects/pathology
Gait
Heptachlor/*toxicity
Humans
*Locomotion
Mice
Neurotoxicity Syndromes/etiology/physiopathology
Parkinsonian Disorders/chemically induced
Pesticides/*toxicity
Substantia Nigra/*drug effects/pathology/physiopathology
Heptachlor
Pesticides