Clorgyline and deprenyl attenuate striatal malonate and 3-nitropropionic acid lesions.

We have previously shown that dopamine depletion reduces striatal damage elicited by the mitochondrial neurotoxins malonate and 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP). Metabolism of dopamine by monoamine oxidase results in the formation of hydrogen peroxide, which may mediate dopamine toxicity. In this study, administration of the monoamine oxidase inhibitors clorgyline and deprenyl resulted in a 42% and 75% reduction in lesion volumes in malonate- and 3NP-treated animals, respectively, compared to controls. Copyright 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.