Antioxidant mechanism and protection of nigral neurons against MPP+ toxicity by deprenyl (selegiline).

The current research has demonstrated that MPP+ can induce lipid peroxidation in the nigrostriatal system of rat in vivo. Antioxidant agent U-78517F and .OH scavenger DMSO may protect against MPP+ toxicity through the inhibition of .OH radical-mediated oxidative injury in the substantia nigra. These findings indicate that the cytotoxic hydroxyl radical generated from dopamine oxidation in the iron-rich basal ganglia may contribute to the mechanism underlying the selective A9 melanized nigral degeneration in MPTP-Parkinsonism and possibly in idiopathic Parkinson's disease. In addition, the present studies also clearly demonstrate that deprenyl can substantially protect dopaminergic neurons against MPP+ toxicity in the substantia nigra zona compacta in vivo. The neuroprotective effect provided by deprenyl may not be the consequence of its inhibition of MAO-B activity or prevention of the uptake of MPP+ by dopaminergic neurons. A unique antioxidant property of deprenyl by suppressing .OH formation and associated oxidative injury induced by MPP+ may contribute to the apparent neuroprotective action. In perspective, this putative antioxidant effect of deprenyl may provide another mechanism to its overt neuroprotective effects against oxygen radical-mediated oxidative injury in some neurotoxic chemicals, such as 6-OHDA and DSP-4, and probably in Alzheimer's disease and senescent changes. Finally, based on the present data, a possible neuroprotective therapeutic window of deprenyl in the treatment of early Parkinson's disease has been proposed. It is suggested that deprenyl should be introduced as early as possible in de novo Parkinsonian patients to achieve its full neuroprotective effect on nigral degeneration. Moreover, a combination of early detection of individuals at risk of developing Parkinson's disease and early intervention of deprenyl and/or other centrally active antioxidants to these patients may provide a new preventive therapeutic strategy in the future, in addition to the current conventional levodopa treatment of Parkinson's disease.