Citation/Abstract

The role of genetics in the etiology of PD has been controversial, but recent studies provide strong evidence for linkage to genetic markers on chromosome 4q21-23 to the PD phenotype. MPTP is a synthetic neurotoxin whose mechanism of action is relevant to neurochemical injuries seen in PD. It has been hypothesized that there is a polygenic determinant underlying the differential susceptibility of inbred DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice to MPTP, and the elucidation of the nature of these genetic components will provide insight into the etiology of idiopathic PD. Identification of the location of genes involved in the preferential MPTP-inducing striatal dopamine depletion will employ the molecular genetic strategy of quantitative trait loci mapping. A protocol that consistently produced a strain difference large enough to proceed with QTL mapping was established.