Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 78 (1), 23-29 (1998)


Protective Effect of Talipexole on MPTP-Treated Planarian, a Unique Parkinsonian Worm Model

Yoshihisa Kitamura, Jun-ichi Kakimura and Takashi Taniguchi

Department of Neurobiology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan

Abstract: The planarian, a flatworm, has a high potential for regeneration, and dopamine plays a key role in its behavior. Planarians treated with MPTP underwent autolysis and individual death in a concentration-dependent manner. When the planarian body was cut into anterior, middle and posterior pieces, each piece subsequently regenerated and reorganized to form a new individual within approximately 10 days. The anterior piece was significantly more sensitive than the middle and posterior pieces to MPTP cytotoxicity. Concomitant treatment with talipexole, an anti-parkinsonian drug, inhibited MPTP-induced autolysis and individual death in a concentration-dependent manner. Pramipexole showed a similar protective effect. In addition, post-treatment with talipexole at 1 hr after MPTP completely inhibited MPTP-induced individual death. Although MPTP treatment caused 30% of the planarians to undergo autolysis and individual death within 12 hr, post-treatment with talipexole even at 12 hr completely rescued the remaining 70% of the planarians from death. These results suggest that the MPTP-treated planarian may be useful as a novel parkinsonian model in which talipexole has a protective effect even in the case of post-treatment.


Keywords: Talipexole, Pramipexole, MPTP, Planarian, Parkinsonian worm model


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1998

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