Rotenone-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity promoted by mesencephalic astrocyte dysfunction

Abstract

Background: Exposure to pesticides, such as rotenone or paraquat, is thought as a potential environmental factor to play important roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Indeed, rotenone is often used to produce parkinsonian models, because it induces PD-like pathology. It is well known that rotenone causes dopaminergic neurotoxicity by inhibition of mitochondrial complex I. However, the mechanisms of selective dopaminergic neurodegeneration remain unclear.