Differential Vulnerability of Snake Species to MPTP: A Behavioral and Biochemical Comparison in Ratsnakes (Elaphe) and Watersnakes (Nerodia)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Barthalmus GT ; Miller DB ; Temple JG
• Description:
  The synthetic neurotoxicant 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induces a Parkinsonian-like syndrome in humans and nonhuman primates, and also causes movement disorders in rodents, fish, amphibians and lizards. To date, the effects of MPTP have not been characterized in snakes. In this study, the behavioral and biochemical effects of MPTP were assessed in the black ratsnake Elaphe o. obsoleta and the banded watersnake Nerodia f. fasciata--species that display contrasting behavioral sensitivities to dopaminergic antagonists and to amphibian toxins. We report that MPTP induces depletion of norepinephrine and serotonin in fore, mid and hindbrain regions and depletion of dopamine in fore and midbrain regions in E.o. obsoleta. MPTP also induced a marked reduction in righting ability in E.o. obsoleta. In N.f. fasciata, norepinephrine and dopamine were depleted by MPTP in all three brain regions and serotonin was only significantly reduced in the forebrain. In contrast to E.o. obsoleta, N.f. fasciata demonstrated no behavioral disorders. This study demonstrates a behavioral and biochemical sensitivity to MPTP in E.o. obsoleta that differs from that in N.f. fasciata. The differential sensitivities to monoaminergic modulation may be related to the contrasting diets of these species. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Behavior Hazardous Substances Laboratories Mental Disorders Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Animal-studies Author Keywords: MPTP Behavioral-disorders Behavioral-testing Biological-effects Dopamine Laboratory-animals Motor Control Neuromotor-disorders Neuromotor-system-disorders Neuromuscular-function Neurotoxins Reptile Rodents Serotonin Toxins

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• ISSN:
  0892-0362
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; Virginia ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  227-233
• Volume:
  24
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20022989
• Citation:
  Neurotoxicol Teratol 2002 Mar-Apr; 24(2):227-233
• Contact Point Address:
  Department of Biological Sciences, Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USA
• Email:
  jtemple@mwc.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (CAS RN 28289-54-5) ; 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (CAS RN 48134-75-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2002
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Neurotoxicology and Teratology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:db92b9f8c3a974ef758f78944d091bdffb3a7a212648b54b097132233b6c172c116a1347bcf628912575c28c13d5947d8f9422eb55379c954337ecdf5128829e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199587/cdc_199587_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 154.71 KB ]