title: Increased survival of dopaminergic neurons by rasagiline, a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor.
abstract: Both deprenyl and rasagiline (R(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindane mesylate), at a concentration of 1-10 microM, increased survival in vitro of rat E14 mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons that had been primed with 10% serum for 12 h (p < 0.05). Rasagiline, but not deprenyl, also increased total neuronal (MAP2-positive) survival (p < 0.05) Under serum-free conditions, rasagiline, but not deprenyl, retained its neuroprotective action on dopaminergic neurones. GABAergic neurons were not affected by either deprenyl or rasagiline. Clorgyline, an MAO-A inhibitor, did not exert any of these effects. The protective action of rasagiline on dopaminergic neurons, even under stringent serum-free conditions, is striking, and warrants further investigation for a role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Finberg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeshima
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Commissiong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003010:Clorgyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D007189:Indans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology*; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012642:Selegiline / Q000494:pharmacology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007189:Indans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; C031967:rasagiline; D012642:Selegiline; D008694:Methamphetamine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D003010:Clorgyline; D004298:Dopamine