Meeting Abstract

P2.137  Thursday, Jan. 5  Behavioral effects of the Parkinsonism inducing neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine on zebrafish larvae PREZIOSO, Kristen*; FURIMSKY, Marosh; Westminster College preziokk@wclive.westminster.edu

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuron degeneration and a manifestation of debilitating motor symptoms. Currently, the etiology and pathogenesis is poorly understood, and it is unclear whether genetic or environmental factors are responsible for most cases. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a contaminant of the synthetic heroine, meperidine, and has implicated along with the pesticides paraquat and rotenone, as PD causing agents. MPTP causes severe and irreversible motor abnormalities and a depletion of dopaminergic neurons in human and animal models, suggesting a link between patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and those exposed to the neurotoxin. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of MPTP on development and locomotor behavior of zebrafish. Fish were exposed to MPTP (45 µg/L and 245 µg/L) at an early developmental stage (24 hpf), and at a post developmental stage (5 dpf). At 7 dpf, locomotor activity and response to tactile stimulation were observed. Half of the embryos were manually dechorionated prior to the early exposure to study the capacity of the chorion’s protective barrier. The results of this study showed that MPTP exposure significantly affected locomotor activity in larval zebrafish.