Exploring the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of rotenone-induced toxicity

This chapter is intended to provide an organic revision of evidence for the involvement of autophagy in the pathogenesis of rotenone-induced toxicity. The mechanisms underlying rotenone neurotoxicity are elucidated through a description of findings obtained in both in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Furthermore, this chapter describes the etiological role of rotenone and other pesticide exposure in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, as demonstrated by epidemiological studies performed in the last decades starting from results obtained in animal and cellular experimental models. The specific focus of the present chapter is to explore the effect of rotenone on autophagic pathway, whose dysfunctions are already recognized to play an important pathogenetic role in Parkinson’s disease. Specifically, a comprehensive revision of the current available literature on the rotenone-induced dysfunctions of the two main types of autophagy, macroautophagy and chaperonemediated autophagy, is provided in order to clarify the protective rather than detrimental contribute exerted by autophagy alterations in the cell death induced by rotenone.