LONG-TERM ADMINISTRATION OF (-)-DEPRENYL INCREASES MORTALITY IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Long term administration of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (-)-depren yl (0.5 mg/Kg) for up to 20 months significantly increased mortality i n the male Wistar rat, whereas the dopamine agonist pergolide (0.4 mg/ Kg) and the antioxidant diethyldithiocarbamate (400 mg/Kg) had no sign ificant effect on mortality. The increased mortality was not related t o dietary intake or body weight of the rats. This is of interest in th e light of recent evidence that (-)-deprenyl increases mortality in hu mans.