Chronic L-deprenyl-induced up-regulation of the dopamine uptake carrier.

L-Deprenyl is an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B and dopamine uptake. Chronic L-deprenyl (10 mg/kg i.p., twice weekly for 4 weeks) was shown to inhibit monoamine oxidase B activity by 89%, and also to induce an up-regulation of the [3H]mazindol binding site associated with the striatal dopamine uptake carrier. Scatchard analysis indicated a 56% increase in the maximal number of [3H]mazindol binding sites in chronic L-deprenyl animals, but no effect on the affinity of these binding sites. The ability of L-deprenyl to up-regulate the [3H]mazindol-associated dopamine uptake carrier appears to be a result of its role as a dopamine uptake inhibitor.