Comparison of Behavioral Tests in MPTP-induced Parkinson's Disease in Mice

Objective To study the different role of 5 behavioral tests on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease(PD) in C57BL mice.Methods The PD models were formed with intraperitoneal injections of MPTP.The effects of MPTP on behavioral exhibition,number of dopamine(DA) neurons in the substantia nigra and density of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive(TH-ir) nerve fibers in the striatum,level of DA in the striatum were studied by comparing 5 behavioral tests(open field,rotarod,swim test,pole test,grid test),immunohistochemical analysis and fluorospectrophotometry.Results The score of behavioral tests were declined after MPTP.But there was no efficient result in pole test.At the same time,there were high coefficient of variation(CV) and accidental result in grid test.The CV was intermediate and the result was moderately ascending in rotarod.In open field and swim test,the CV was low and the result was obviously downtrend.The number of DA neurons in the substantia nigra were decreased about 58%.The density of TH-ir nerve fibers was also showed to be reduced.The level of DA in the striatum were decresased about 88%.Conclusion The lesions induced by MPTP in C57BL mice are similar to PD in humans.Open field and swim tests are better than others in behavioral tests of studying MPTP-induced PD in C57BL mice.