title: Chronic effects of monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors on the behaviour of aged mice.
abstract: In order to measure the chronic effects of monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors on the physical and cognitive condition of 60 aged male mice, 1-deprenyl or N-methyl-N-(2-pentyl)-propargylamine (M-2-PP) were administered in drinking water (10 micrograms/ml/day) for 37 weeks. The spontaneous open-field locomotion, balancing ability and weight gain of the mice were assessed continuously. At the end of the study the spatial learning ability of all surviving mice was assessed in a Morris water maze. Both drug groups exhibited a reduction in spontaneous locomotion at the same rate as the control group, while there were no changes in balancing ability. The mice receiving 1-deprenyl, however, performed the water maze task less well than the control group. The mice receiving 1-deprenyl also gained weight at a significantly reduced rate compared to both the M-2-PP and water treated groups. A brain MAO assay indicated that MAO-B was completely inhibited by both drugs while MAO-A remained unchanged. The implications of these data on longevity studies using 1-deprenyl and other MAO-B inhibitors are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Boulton
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010293:Pargyline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012642:Selegiline / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; C082737:N-methyl-N-(2-pentyl)propargylamine; D012642:Selegiline; D010293:Pargyline