Summary
An abnormally frequent atypical levodopa-unresponsive, akinetic-rigid syndrome with some similarity to PSP was identified in the Caribbean island Guadeloupe, and was associated with the consumption of plants of the Annonacea family, especially Annona muricata (corossol, soursop) suggesting a possible toxic etiology. Annonaceae contain two groups of potential toxins, alkaloids and acetogenins. Both alkaloids and annonacin, the most abundant acetogenin, were toxic in vitro to dopaminergic and other neurons. However we have focused our work on annonacin for two reasons: (1) annonacin was toxic in nanomolar concentrations, whereas micromolar concentrations of the alkaloids were needed, (2) acetogenins are potent mitochondrial poisons, like other parkinsonism-inducing compounds. We have also shown that high concentrations of annonacin are present in the fruit or aqueous extracts of the leaves of A. muricata, can cross the blood brain barrier since it was detected in brain parenchyma of rats treated chronically with the molecule, and induced neurodegeneration of basal ganglia in these animals, similar to that observed in atypical parkinsonism. These studies reinforce the concept that consumption of Annonaceae may contribute to the pathogenesis of atypical parkinsonism in Guadeloupe.
Keywords
- Tyrosine Hydroxylase
- Dopaminergic Neuron
- Fatty Acid Derivative
- Ventral Mesencephalon
- Atypical Parkinsonism
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Angibaud G, Gaultier C, Rascol O (2004) Atypical parkinsonism and Annonaceae consumption in New Caledonia. Mov Disord 19: 603–604
Betarbet R, Sherer TB, MacKenzie G, Garcia-Osuna M, Panov AV, Greenamyre JT (2000) Chronic systemic pesticide exposure reproduces features of Parkinson’s disease. Nat Neurosci 3:1301–1006
Caparros-Lefebvre D, Elbaz A and the Carribean Parkinsonism Study Group (1999) Possible relation of atypical parkinsonism in the French West Indies with consumption of tropical plants: a case control study. Lancet 354: 281–286
Caparros-Lefebvre D, Sergeant N, Lees A, Camuzat A, Daniel S, Lannuzel A, Brice A, Tolosa E, Delacourte A, Duyckaerts C (2002) Guadeloupean Parkinsonism: a cluster of progressive supranuclear palsy-like taupathy. Brain 125: 801–811
Champy P, Höglinger G, Feger J, Gleye C, Hocquemiller R, Laurens A, Guérineau V, Laprévote O, Medja F, Lombès A, Michel PP, Lannuzel A, Hirsch E, Ruberg M (2004) Acetogenin a lipophilic inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I, induces nigral and striatal neurodegeneration in rats: possible relevance for atypical Parkinsonism in Guadeloupe. J Neurochem 88:63–69
Champy P, Melot A, Guérineau V, Gleye C, Fall D, Höglinger G, Ruberg M, Lannuzel A, Laprévote O, Laurens A, Hocquemiller R (2005) Quantification of acetogenins in Annona muricata linked to atypical parkinsonism in Guadeloupe. Mov Disord 20: 1629–1633
Hoglinger GU, Michel PP, Champy P, Feger J, Hirsch EC, Ruberg M, Lannuzel A (2005) Experimental evidence for a toxic etiology of tropical parkinsonism. Mov Disord 20: 118–119
Langston JW, Forno LS, Tetrud J, Reeves AG, Kaplan JA, Karluk D (1999) Evidence of active nerve cell degeneration in the substantia nigra of humans years after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine exposure. Ann Neurol 46:598–605
Lannuzel A, Michel PP, Caparros-Lefebvre D, Abaul J, Hocquemiller R, Ruberg M (2002) Toxicity of Annonaceae for dopaminergic neurons: potential role in atypical parkinsonism in Guadeloupe. Mov Disord 17: 84–90
Lannuzel A, Michel PP, Höglinger GU, Champy P, Jousset A, Medja F, Lombés A, Darios F, Gleye C, Laurens A, Hocquemiller R, Hirsch EC, Ruberg M (2003) The mitochondrial complex I inhibitor annonacin is toxic to mesencephalic neurons by impairment of energy metabolism. Neuroscience 121: 287–296
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer-Verlag
About this paper
Cite this paper
Lannuzel, A., Höglinger, G.U., Champy, P., Michel, P.P., Hirsch, E.C., Ruberg, M. (2006). Is atypical parkinsonism in the Caribbean caused by the consumption of Annonacae?. In: Riederer, P., Reichmann, H., Youdim, M.B.H., Gerlach, M. (eds) Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders. Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa, vol 70. Springer, Vienna . https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-45295-0_24
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-45295-0_24
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-211-28927-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-211-45295-0
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)