PHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF RASAGILINE

Rasagiline [R(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindane] is a selective irreversibl e inhibitor of MAO-B which is not metabolised to amphetamine-like deri vatives. Like deprenyl, when given to rats in a dose selective for inh ibition of MAO-B, it does not affect striatal extracellular fluid dopa mine levels, but when administered chronically (21 days) it increased striatal microdialysate dopamine without reduction in deaminated metab olites. Similarly to deprenyl, rasagiline (10(-6)M) increased the perc entage 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 held in this organ otypic culture.