THE CONCEPT OF ASTROCYTE-KINETIC DRUG IN THE TREATMENT OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES - EVIDENCE FOR L-DEPRENYL-INDUCED ACTIVATION OF REACTIVE ASTROCYTES
G. Biagini et al., THE CONCEPT OF ASTROCYTE-KINETIC DRUG IN THE TREATMENT OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES - EVIDENCE FOR L-DEPRENYL-INDUCED ACTIVATION OF REACTIVE ASTROCYTES, Neurochemistry international, 25(1), 1994, pp. 17-22
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) increases neuronal survival and
growth in cell cultures and stimulates functional recovery From brain
lesion. In addition, bFGF is able to induce glial cell proliferation a
nd differentiation. Recently, L-deprenyl has been shown to potentiate
astrocyte reaction to a mechanical lesion and to possess a trophic-lik
e activity in several experimental models. In the present paper, we ha
ve therefore investigated if the enhancing effect of L-deprenyl on ast
rocyte reactivity is accompanied by increased levels of bFGF. The effe
ct of L-deprenyl (0.25 mg/kg/day) on bFGF immunoreactivity (IR) after
the insertion of an injection cannula in rat neostriatum have been inv
estigated. It has been found that subchronic L-deprenyl treatment pote
ntiates both the lesion-induced increase of glial fibrillary acidic pr
otein (GFAP) and bFGF IRs (P < 0.01). These data suggest that a possib
le mechanism for L-deprenyl-induced neuroprotection may be the activat
ion of astrocytes associated with increased secretion of trophic facto
rs that promote neuronal survival and growth. This ''astrocyte-kinetic
'' action of L-deprenyl could represent a new therapeutical approach t
o increase trophic support of lesioned neurons.