Pharmacology and neuroprotective properties of rasagiline

J Neural Transm Suppl. 1996:48:95-101. doi: 10.1007/978-3-7091-7494-4_9.

Abstract

Rasagiline [R(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindane] is a selective irreversible inhibitor of MAO-B which is not metabolised to amphetamine-like derivatives. Like deprenyl, when given to rats in a dose selective for inhibition of MAO-B, it does not affect striatal extracellular fluid dopamine levels, but when administered chronically (21 days) it increased striatal microdialysate dopamine without reduction in deaminated metabolites. Similarly to deprenyl, rasagiline (10(-6)M) increased the percentage of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells in a primary culture of rat fetal mesencephalic cells (6 days in culture). Rasagiline, but not deprenyl, also increased the number of neurons per field in this organotypic culture.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Corpus Striatum / drug effects*
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism
  • Dopamine / biosynthesis
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Humans
  • Indans / pharmacology
  • Indans / therapeutic use*
  • Levodopa / pharmacology
  • Mesencephalon / cytology
  • Mesencephalon / drug effects*
  • Mesencephalon / embryology
  • Microdialysis
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / enzymology
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / analysis
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / analysis

Substances

  • Indans
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • rasagiline
  • Levodopa
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Dopamine