2′-CH3-MPTP
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2′-CH3-MPTP, also known as 2′-methyl-MPTP, is a selective dopaminergic neurotoxin related to MPTP which is used in scientific research to lesion dopaminergic neurons. It is a considerably more potent dopaminergic neurotoxin than MPTP in mice but is less potent than MPTP in primates. MPTP and 2′-CH3-MPTP produce a Parkinson's disease-like condition in animals.
2′-CH3-MPTP is metabolized by monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and B (MAO-B) and this biotransformation is required for its dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Whereas the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of MPTP is completely prevented by the MAO-B inhibitor selegiline, complete prevention of 2′-CH3-MPTP's dopaminergic neurotoxicity requires combined treatment with both selegiline and the MAO-A inhibitor clorgyline.
A close analogue of 2′-CH3-MPTP is 2′-NH2-MPTP, which, in contrast to 2′-CH3-MPTP and MPTP, is a serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotoxin with no effect on dopaminergic neurons. Numerous other neurotoxic MPTP analogues have also been synthesized.
2′-CH3-MPTP was first described in the scientific literature by 1986.