MPTP

noun

ˌem-(ˌ)pē-(ˌ)tē-ˈpē How to pronounce MPTP (audio)
: a neurotoxin C12H15N that destroys dopamine-producing neurons of the substantia nigra and causes symptoms (as tremors and rigidity) similar to those of Parkinson's disease

Word History

Etymology

1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

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“MPTP.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/MPTP. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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