Inhibitory effect of nicergoline on superoxide generation by activated rat microglias measured using a simple chemiluminescence method.
We evaluated the effect of nicergoline on superoxide production by rat microglias using a 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3, 7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one-dependent chemiluminescence assay. Nicergoline dose-dependently inhibited superoxide production by microglias stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate or opsonized zymosan, while it had no effect on superoxide production by a hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system. These results indicate that nicergoline does not have a scavenging effect, but has an inhibitory effect on superoxide generation by microglias. Although this drug is commonly used for treating chronic cerebral infarction, it may also have a protective effect on progression of Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease.
Yoshida
T
T
Department of Neurology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Showa-machi, Maebashi, 371-8511, Gunma, Japan.
Tanaka
M
M
Okamoto
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009530:Nicergoline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
D007093:Imidazoles; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D011719:Pyrazines; D013481:Superoxides; C063412:2-methyl-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo(1,2-alpha)pyrazin-3-one; D009530:Nicergoline