It has previously been shown that both the dopamine receptor agonist,
pergolide, and the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, (-)-deprenyl, can caus
e induction of CuZn superoxide dismutase in the rat striatum. We have
now confirmed this effect of pergolide (0.04 mg/kg i.p.) as being loca
lised to the striatum, but not the cerebellum, and shown it to take 3
weeks to develop. Furthermore, we have found that MDL 72974, a more sp
ecific monoamine oxidase inhibitor than (-)-deprenyl, failed to bring
about such an induction either at a low selective monoamine oxidase B
inhibitory dose, or at a higher non-selective dose.