Abstract: Parkinson’s disease has differential prevalence among ethnic groups. Caucasians are more susceptible; Non-whites are less and Admixed populations are better protected. Molecular mechanisms of susceptibility are unknown. Similarly, different mice strains have varying susceptibility to neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Strains with lesser basal dopaminergic neurons are more susceptible to MPTP than to those with higher neuron numbers in substantia nigra pars compacta. We compare nigral dopaminergic neurons in mouse strains C57BL/6J, CD-1 and their F1 crossbreds (F1X1 and F1X2) with respect to developmental apoptosis in the nigra during postnatal and to assess MPTP-induced degeneration at adulthood. Evaluation of the postnatal development apoptosis highlighted that the neuronal population size is actually determined during development. The differences in the basal nigral neuronal numbers in the adult may be a consequence of differential developmental apoptosis in these mice strains. The vulnerability to a neurodegenerative disease may arise early during development.

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