Rotenone inhibits autophagic flux prior to inducing cell death.

Rotenone, which selectively inhibits mitochondrial complex I, induces oxidative stress, α-synuclein accumulation, and dopaminergic neuron death, principal pathological features of Parkinson's disease. The autophagy-lysosome pathway degrades damaged proteins and organelles for the intracellular maintenance of nutrient and energy balance. While it is known that rotenone causes autophagic vacuole accumulation, the mechanism by which this effect occurs has not been thoroughly investigated.