Protective effect of deprenyl against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium neurotoxicity in rat striatum.

Rats were treated with deprenyl for 3 weeks. Afterwards, slices of the corpus striatum were incubated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+). Concentrations of dopamine and its metabolite concentrations were assayed. The effect of MPP+ in animals treated with deprenyl was smaller than in controls, indicating that deprenyl protects against MPP+. We also measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities and carbonyl group content of the proteins. Both activities increased in deprenyl-treated rats, and the amount of carbonyl groups was unchanged. These results suggest that the protective effect of deprenyl is independent of the monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor and of the induction of SOD and catalase activities.