The neuronal survival effects of rasagiline and deprenyl on fetal human and rat ventral mesencephalic neurones in culture

The neuronal survival properties of rasagiline (R(+)-N-propargyl-l-aminoind ane mesylate or TVP-1012), a novel monoamine oxidase B inhibitor, have been investigate using neuronal cell cultures from fetal rat and human ventral mesencephalon. The ability of rasagiline to reduce the rate of neuronal cel l loss in vitro was tested using primary neuronal cell lines and immunohist ochemistry to quantify the reduction in cell death. Direct comparison was m ade with deprenyl, a widely used and long established monoamine oxidase B i nhibitor. Rasagiline was shown to act 15-20% more effectively as a neuronal survival agent than deprenyl, increasing both the survival of the total nu mber of neurones and selectively increasing the survival of dopaminergic ne urones with no statistically significant increase in survival of GABAergic neurones. NeuroReport 11:3937-3941 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.