Metabolism of (-)-deprenyl and PF-(-)-deprenyl in brain after central and peripheral administration.

We examined the cerebral metabolism of L-deprenyl and its fluoro-derivative pF-deprenyl, assaying the parent compounds, their metabolites desmethyl deprenyl, L-amphetamine, and L-methamphetamine, and the fluoro analogs of these metabolites. We compared the levels of the metabolites after subcutaneous injection with those after intracerebral administration (via microdialysis) of the parent compounds. The assay of the parent compounds and their metabolites was by GC-MS measurement of the components of brain microdialysate samples. After their subcutaneous administration, deprenyl and F-deprenyl rapidly entered the brain and then their concentration decreased, with an approximate half-life of 4.5 h. After the intracerebral administration the diffusion from the site of administration was minor. A small fraction (a few percent) of the intracerebrally administered deprenyl was metabolized in situ in the brain possibly by a nonenzymatic process. Metabolism of pF-deprenyl was somewhat more rapid. The higher cerebral levels of metabolites after the subcutaneous administration indicate their exogenous origin-metabolism of parent compounds in the periphery and penetration of the brain by the metabolites.