L-DEPRENYL POTENTIATES NGF-INDUCED CHANGES IN SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE MESSENGER-RNA IN PC12 CELLS

L-deprenyl protects neurons in a number of in vivo and in vitro models and it has been postulated that it ameliorates some neurodegenerative disorders. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is one of the enzymes responsib le for the inactivation of oxygen free radicals, and one of the mechan isms of the effect of L-deprenyl is thought to act by induction of SOD . In this study, PC12 cells were used to study the effect of L-depreny l on gene regulation of SOD and its interaction with nerve growth fact or (NGF), The results show that NGF induces SOD mRNA in a dose-depende nt manner and that a similar effect was produced by L-deprenyl, In add ition, L-deprenyl potentiates NGF effects. This study demonstrates tha t both L-deprenyl and NGF may be involved in common antioxidative mech anisms and that L-deprenyl may interact with neurotrophic factors. J. Neurosci. Res. 53:235-238, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.