Investigation on Neuroprotective Role of Caffeine Against MPTP Induced Neurotoxicity in Mice Using 13C NMR Spectroscopy

Puneet Bagga¹, Suresh Kumar M¹, Anant Bahadur Patel¹

MPTP is a well established neurotoxin which causes selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra leading to dopamine loss and hence PD. Neuroprotective effects of caffeine, a MAO-B inhibitor against MPTP were investigated using infusion of [1,6-13C2]glucose and 1H-[13C]-NMR spectroscopy in adult male C57BL6 mice. Treatment with MPTP led to loss of glutamatergic and GABAergic activity in cortex, striatum, thalamus-hypothalamus and olfactory bulb. Pretreatment with caffeine led to recovery of glutamatergic and GABAergic activity in cortex and olfactory bulb, but the same in striatum and thalamus-hypothalamus was only partially recovered, suggesting partial neuroprotection conferred by caffeine against MPTP neurotoxicity.