Brain iron levels are significantly increased in Parkinsons disease (PD) and iron deposition is observed in the substantia nigra [SN] of PD patients.It is unclear whether iron overload is an initial cause of dopaminergic neuronal death or merely a byproduct that occurs in the SN of PD patients.In this study, ceruloplasmin knockout [CP-/-] mice and mice receiving an intracerebroventricular injection of ferric citrate [FAC] were selected as mouse models with high levels of brain iron.These mice were administered with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine [MPTP] by intraperitoneal injection.