The catecholaminergic neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) has recently been found to be formed endogenously in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. In this article, we highlight the latest findings on the biochemical mechanism of 6-OHDA toxicity. 6-OHDA has two ways of action: it easily forms free radicals and it is a potent inhibitor of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I and IV. The inhibition of respiratory enzymes by 6-OHDA is reversible and insensitive towards radical scavengers and iron chelators with the exception of desferrioxamine. We conclude that free radicals are not involved in the interaction between 6-OHDA and the respiratory chain and that the two mechanisms are biochemically independent, although they may act synergistically in vivo.
CITATION STYLE
Glinka, Y., Gassen, M., & Youdim, M. B. H. (1997). Mechanism of 6-hydroxydopamine neurotoxicity. Journal of Neural Transmission, Supplement. Springer-Verlag Wien. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6842-4_7
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