Paraquat Inhalation Produces Male-Biased Dopaminergic Neuron Loss and Motor Deficits in Mice: Relevance to Parkinsons Disease

Whole-body inhalation of paraquat aerosol for 60 days causes male-specific locomotor impairments and reduces striatal dopamine and substantia nigra TH+ dopaminergic neurons in mice.

• Why it matters: The gap is whether environmentally relevant, prolonged low-dose inhalation—rather than systemic dosing—can produce Parkinsonian pathology linked to Parkinson’s disease risk.
• What they did: Mice were exposed to paraquat aerosol via inhalation for 40 or 60 days, with brain PQ distribution measured and dopaminergic endpoints assessed by striatal dopamine, substantia nigra TH expression and TH+ neuron counts, plus olfactory bulb -synuclein levels.
• The result: After 60 days, males showed locomotor deficits alongside reduced striatal dopamine and substantia nigra TH+ neurons, with increased olfactory bulb -synuclein, supporting inhaled PQ dopaminergic neurotoxicity and raising concerns for US PD incidence.

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