Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 13491

Shown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Memory

Posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 10:30:25

As some of you may have read, I'm currently taking an monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and fairly recently have gotten
onto what I feel is a "therapeutic dose."

I've experienced fairly mild side effects. The least subtle have been sleep disturbance and some jitters. It's the
more subtle effects that have me concerned at this point.

Example: Yesterday someone asked me my phone number, and for the life of me, I could not remember it. I have lived
at the same address for over three years, and my phone number hasn't changed once during that time. I'm sure it would
have come back to me (I consulted an ID before I had the chance), but it seems to me that my phone number of all things
ought to be an immediate recall item. I've had similar experiences over the past couple weeks. I like the composer
Erik Satie, and was discussing his music with someone over lunch. Thing is, after a few minutes, even though I had said
"Satie" at the beginning of the conversation, I suddenly lost the name. I just couldn't get it out. It was there, just,
well, temporarily inaccessible. I'm finding names particularly difficult these days. And directions. Someone asked
me how to get to my appartment from Boston, and damned if I didn't have to go to Yahoo to get a map. This is a trip I
have made many, many times, at least from their general area.

I guess all this could be a sign of age, but it's not like I'm _that_ old (just shy of 30). I know depression can have
profound effects on memory, but I'm not feeling especially depressed at the moment. I could be getting paranoid, but
the phone number lapse kind of jarred me. That's a definite first, and frankly, I felt like a bit of a dope. I'm a bit
worried because I'm a researcher, and my memory is one of those assets I can't do without. I've never been especially
great at memorization, but my ability to remember and recall information has never got me worried before. Now I'm a
little worried.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

 

Re: Memory

Posted by JohnL on October 20, 1999, at 17:05:41

In reply to Memory, posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 10:30:25


> Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Sorry Adam. No suggestions. I know the same thing has happened with me sometimes (thankfully not regularly) though. I forgot my phone number once. Forgot my zip code once. Forget how to spell words I've spelled all my life sometimes. Wierd little things here and there. Not much, but just enough to take notice.

Don't have any idea whether it's part of the depression, another symptom of some deficiency in the brain possibly related to the depression, or a direct result of medicines. I hate to admit it, but you aint the only one. I never had these problems before ADs though, so I tend to think it's due to the drugs. Not sure, can't remember! :) ha!

 

Re: Memory

Posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 17:59:00

In reply to Re: Memory, posted by JohnL on October 20, 1999, at 17:05:41

Yeah, if you haven't noticed, my spelling these days has been attrocious.
Embarassing. I couldn't function without a word processor. The hard thing
is I'm bright. I'm no genius, but when I feel aspects of my intellect are
slipping, it can scare me. It's my main asset.

>
>
>
> > Any thoughts? Suggestions?
>
> Sorry Adam. No suggestions. I know the same thing has happened with me sometimes (thankfully not regularly) though. I forgot my phone number once. Forgot my zip code once. Forget how to spell words I've spelled all my life sometimes. Wierd little things here and there. Not much, but just enough to take notice.
>
> Don't have any idea whether it's part of the depression, another symptom of some deficiency in the brain possibly related to the depression, or a direct result of medicines. I hate to admit it, but you aint the only one. I never had these problems before ADs though, so I tend to think it's due to the drugs. Not sure, can't remember! :) ha!

 

Re: Memory

Posted by Brandon on October 20, 1999, at 19:08:02

In reply to Re: Memory, posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 17:59:00

> Yeah, if you haven't noticed, my spelling these days has been attrocious.
> Embarassing. I couldn't function without a word processor. The hard thing
> is I'm bright. I'm no genius, but when I feel aspects of my intellect are
> slipping, it can scare me. It's my main asset.
>
> >
> > Hi Adam,

I cant remember which posting it was...I think it was the "Selegiline for Depression" one. Well anyway I remember a lady commenting that Selegiline made her word retrieval really bad. Hmmm...I wonder if there is any correlation. I couldnt find anything in medline though.

Brandon
> >
> > > Any thoughts? Suggestions?
> >
> > Sorry Adam. No suggestions. I know the same thing has happened with me sometimes (thankfully not regularly) though. I forgot my phone number once. Forgot my zip code once. Forget how to spell words I've spelled all my life sometimes. Wierd little things here and there. Not much, but just enough to take notice.
> >
> > Don't have any idea whether it's part of the depression, another symptom of some deficiency in the brain possibly related to the depression, or a direct result of medicines. I hate to admit it, but you aint the only one. I never had these problems before ADs though, so I tend to think it's due to the drugs. Not sure, can't remember! :) ha!

 

Re: Memory

Posted by Noa on October 20, 1999, at 20:15:20

In reply to Re: Memory, posted by Brandon on October 20, 1999, at 19:08:02

For me, it is definitely the meds. When on higher doses of effexor, I get bad word, um what's the name for when you can't remember things, oh god it's right there, I was about to type in and it was lost, you know when you just can't remember the word.....oy yeah, word retrieval problems. It happens with all kinds of words, sometimes with names and numbers, but mostly with words--simple or sophisticate. Makes me feel REALLY DUMB if it happens at work. I am now taking Effexor XR and am up to 375 and it is happening again, although not as bad as the regular effexor. It is frustrating. Mostly, I am trying to work on not getting flustered by it, because what happens is I get so embarrassed I lose my train of thought altogether. I am trying to stay calm and find a suitable substitute word or talk "around" the word. It isn't easy though. BTW there is something on psychopharm tips on word retreival problems and effexor, maybe also about other meds.

 

Re: Memory & Vagus Nerve

Posted by dj on October 20, 1999, at 22:36:14

In reply to Re: Memory, posted by Noa on October 20, 1999, at 20:15:20

Further to the recurring thread on memory and the recent thread on the vagus nerve I found the following note at the end of an article from Associated Press which probably came from a news release from Cyberonics. Food for thought, though what one does with it I'm not entirely certain....

"The vagus nerve might also:

-Help stroke or head-injury victims' memory recover. In a study last year, epilepsy patients scored 36 percent better at recalling words read just before their vagus nerve was stimulated. The theory: Emotional hormones seem to stimulate the vagus nerve to store memories, so maybe the implant could mimic that effect in injured patients. "

 

Re: Memory

Posted by saint james on October 21, 1999, at 4:40:20

In reply to Memory, posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 10:30:25

I like the composer
> Erik Satie, and was discussing his music with someone over lunch. Thing is, after a few minutes, even though I had said
> "Satie" at the beginning of the conversation, I suddenly lost the name. I just couldn't get it out.

James here...

Erik Satie....tres bien !

j

 

Re: Memory & Vagus Nerve

Posted by Noa on October 21, 1999, at 5:18:33

In reply to Re: Memory & Vagus Nerve, posted by dj on October 20, 1999, at 22:36:14

DJ, thanks for relaying all the info, here and above, about vagus nerve stim. Keep us posted.

 

Re: Memory--Long Term vs. Word Finding

Posted by Andy on October 21, 1999, at 9:45:59

In reply to Memory, posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 10:30:25

Adam: I have a job that requires alot of analytical skill and the ability to recall a large store of knowledge accumulated over many years. Since I have been taking meds I have found that I have word finding difficulties. I know I know the word--I just can't get it out of recall. It can be maddening when you are used to immediate recall of such simple things. I also notice some impairment of short term recall, such as what I was doing yesterday or earlier today. It's there, it just takes longer to access it.

Significantly, however, I have seen no diminution in my job performance. My analytical ability and recall of important concepts and facts necessary to do my job is unimpaired. My job performance has actually improved quite a bit since it was impaired by depression. My ability to concentrate has returned.

Judging from the posts I read here these word finding difficulties are common. If you stay cool they will not be apparent to anyone except you. Just pause, find another word or change the subject. The phone thing is unnerving, but it's not as uncommon as you think. After all you don't call yourself that often.

> As some of you may have read, I'm currently taking an monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and fairly recently have gotten
> onto what I feel is a "therapeutic dose."
>
> I've experienced fairly mild side effects. The least subtle have been sleep disturbance and some jitters. It's the
> more subtle effects that have me concerned at this point.
>
> Example: Yesterday someone asked me my phone number, and for the life of me, I could not remember it. I have lived
> at the same address for over three years, and my phone number hasn't changed once during that time. I'm sure it would
> have come back to me (I consulted an ID before I had the chance), but it seems to me that my phone number of all things
> ought to be an immediate recall item. I've had similar experiences over the past couple weeks. I like the composer
> Erik Satie, and was discussing his music with someone over lunch. Thing is, after a few minutes, even though I had said
> "Satie" at the beginning of the conversation, I suddenly lost the name. I just couldn't get it out. It was there, just,
> well, temporarily inaccessible. I'm finding names particularly difficult these days. And directions. Someone asked
> me how to get to my appartment from Boston, and damned if I didn't have to go to Yahoo to get a map. This is a trip I
> have made many, many times, at least from their general area.
>
> I guess all this could be a sign of age, but it's not like I'm _that_ old (just shy of 30). I know depression can have
> profound effects on memory, but I'm not feeling especially depressed at the moment. I could be getting paranoid, but
> the phone number lapse kind of jarred me. That's a definite first, and frankly, I felt like a bit of a dope. I'm a bit
> worried because I'm a researcher, and my memory is one of those assets I can't do without. I've never been especially
> great at memorization, but my ability to remember and recall information has never got me worried before. Now I'm a
> little worried.
>
> Any thoughts? Suggestions?

 

Re: Memory

Posted by Rick on October 21, 1999, at 11:39:51

In reply to Memory, posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 10:30:25

This is a complicated topic, but there are so many factors that can figure in, from natural aging effects to anxiety to garden-variety stress to cognitive overload to fatigue to meds to the type of memory involved. As they enter middle age, many of my friends, like myself, are complaining about having more trouble with recall. Spontaneous word recall problems, temporarily forgetting one’s own phone number, and losing things are all common complaints.

I’ve always had a problem when confronted with requests for directions for routes I know well...especially if I’m sitting in traffic and feel pressured to finish quickly before the light changes and people start honking. Every time, I tell myself “THIS this time I’m going to get it RIGHT”, and then, the moment the poor sap that chose me for directions is gone, I realize I screwed up. They probably think I’m a sadist when they see the “Welcome to Indiana” sign after following my directions to get to Wisconsin. I thought this might be a reflection of my Social Phobia (performance anxiety component?), but while meds have greatly helped my condition -- and even my overall cognitive functioning (through release of anxiety?) -- I still have these kinds of problems.

For me and many others, I think a big contributor to the problem is a kind of run-of-the-mill self-consciousness or “trying too hard”...like when I start to do well at golf or bowling, then over-analyze my progress. Then I suddenly turn into duffer par excellence or the gutter ball king. When other(s) are watching, the situation is exacerbated. The more I dwell on something, the more self-conscious I become and the worse I perform, or the worse I remember.

Rick
-------
> As some of you may have read, I'm currently taking an monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and fairly recently have gotten
> onto what I feel is a "therapeutic dose."
>
> I've experienced fairly mild side effects. The least subtle have been sleep disturbance and some jitters. It's the
> more subtle effects that have me concerned at this point.
>
> Example: Yesterday someone asked me my phone number, and for the life of me, I could not remember it. I have lived
> at the same address for over three years, and my phone number hasn't changed once during that time. I'm sure it would
> have come back to me (I consulted an ID before I had the chance), but it seems to me that my phone number of all things
> ought to be an immediate recall item. I've had similar experiences over the past couple weeks. I like the composer
> Erik Satie, and was discussing his music with someone over lunch. Thing is, after a few minutes, even though I had said
> "Satie" at the beginning of the conversation, I suddenly lost the name. I just couldn't get it out. It was there, just,
> well, temporarily inaccessible. I'm finding names particularly difficult these days. And directions. Someone asked
> me how to get to my appartment from Boston, and damned if I didn't have to go to Yahoo to get a map. This is a trip I
> have made many, many times, at least from their general area.
>
> I guess all this could be a sign of age, but it's not like I'm _that_ old (just shy of 30). I know depression can have
> profound effects on memory, but I'm not feeling especially depressed at the moment. I could be getting paranoid, but
> the phone number lapse kind of jarred me. That's a definite first, and frankly, I felt like a bit of a dope. I'm a bit
> worried because I'm a researcher, and my memory is one of those assets I can't do without. I've never been especially
> great at memorization, but my ability to remember and recall information has never got me worried before. Now I'm a
> little worried.
>
> Any thoughts? Suggestions?

 

Re: Memory & Vagus Nerve

Posted by dj on October 21, 1999, at 23:23:16

In reply to Re: Memory & Vagus Nerve, posted by Noa on October 21, 1999, at 5:18:33

No problemo, Noa. However, I'll leave it to Herb from that site to come post a follow-up on his wife's progress if he is kind enough, and he seemed to be that kind-a guy from his posts there..

> DJ, thanks for relaying all the info, here and above, about vagus nerve stim. Keep us posted.

 

Re: Memory

Posted by Diane on October 23, 1999, at 10:42:48

In reply to Memory, posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 10:30:25

> As some of you may have read, I'm currently taking an monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and fairly recently have gotten
> onto what I feel is a "therapeutic dose."
>
Could you be having little seizures?
Aren't seizures a possible side effect of some AD?

I went into seizures when I stopped taking Xanax. I was real bad in the word
association dept. for many years. I.e.: I knew what something might be for, a chair for
example but I could not remember what it was called, a CHAIR. And it
might of been days before it would come to me.

I know your problem isn't withdrawal but I'd swear I heard some of these
anti-depressants can cause seizures in and of themselves.
Diane


 

Re: Memory & Vasopressin

Posted by Diane on October 23, 1999, at 10:55:57

In reply to Memory, posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 10:30:25

> As some of you may have read, I'm currently taking an monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and fairly recently have gotten
> onto what I feel is a "therapeutic dose."

I was looking to try this Vasopressin myself.

http://www.smartbasic.com/glos.drugs/vasopressin.glos.html

Just an idea.

 

Re: Memory & Vasopressin

Posted by saint james on October 23, 1999, at 11:05:27

In reply to Re: Memory & Vasopressin, posted by Diane on October 23, 1999, at 10:55:57

> > As some of you may have read, I'm currently taking an monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and fairly recently have gotten
> > onto what I feel is a "therapeutic dose."
>
> I was looking to try this Vasopressin myself.
>
> http://www.smartbasic.com/glos.drugs/vasopressin.glos.html
>

James here...

You might also try http://www.hyperreal.org/nootropics/index.html

also search using "smart drugs" or "nootropics"

 

Re: Memory/stupidity

Posted by ellen on October 23, 1999, at 17:48:04

In reply to Re: Memory, posted by Rick on October 21, 1999, at 11:39:51

can have
> > profound effects on memory, but I'm not feeling especially depressed at the moment. I could be getting paranoid, but
> > the phone number lapse kind of jarred me. That's a definite first, and frankly, I felt like a bit of a dope. I'm a bit
> > worried because I'm a researcher, and my memory is one of those assets I can't do without. I've never been especially
> > great at memorization, but my ability to remember and recall information has never got me worried before. Now I'm a
> > little worried.
> >
> > Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Hi.

I thought I was going crazy for awhile ... *laugh*
I would look for the word "cat" and come up with
dog or animal. I work as an editor/reporter/writer
so this is a problem.

Finally went to the pharmacist, who told me
that the prozac I was on had COGNITIVE effects.
(screws up your brain's ability to think).
Everything I've been on since has also impacted
my brain. Wellbutrin /bupropion is the only thing
I've been on that doesn't harm word retrieval.
It just lowers my IQ about 20 points. I'm slower,
dull, less able to make puns quickly,
find I miss sarcastic comments or leg-pulling.
It's annoying. I can be stupid or I can be suicidal.
harumph.

Research apparently has been done to support this
general idea (word retrieval/cognitive impact of many
antidepressants) but it doesn't seem to be well
known/"advertised."

btw, I'm new here. Howdy.

ellen

 

Re: Memory

Posted by M on October 26, 1999, at 21:02:31

In reply to Memory, posted by Adam on October 20, 1999, at 10:30:25

> Any thoughts? Suggestions?

SSRI's do the same to me, and in fact even
L-tryptophan will do it. Right now I'm in
week 2 of Wellbutrin SR 100mg 2x/day, and
haven't noticed noticed any word finding
problems. FWIW.

If you do a search on Dr. Bob's "Psychopharmacology
Tips" for "word finding" (no quotes), there's a
discussion about this very thing. It seems fairly
common. One of the pdocs did some tests
that showed decreased performance on a specific
word-related task, compared to the person's
pre-Prozac performance. OTOH, on a different test,
the decrease diminished after a few months. So,
it's probably (IMHO) the med. Anyway, lots of
good info. there.

It just occured to me: maybe try gabapentin. I
can't quote studies, but I've had several people
say tell me has a memory *enhancing* effect for
them. Of course, YBMV.

 

Re: Memory -- not of YBMV

Posted by dj on October 27, 1999, at 1:09:57

In reply to Re: Memory, posted by M on October 26, 1999, at 21:02:31

>. Of course, YBMV.

Try English, eh, more of us may comphrend your attempt at being chic or whatever...

 

Re: Memory-Long, but...

Posted by Adam on November 17, 1999, at 22:45:32

In reply to Re: Memory -- not of YBMV, posted by dj on October 27, 1999, at 1:09:57


Anyway, more examples:

-I'm working on giving a talk to the whole department, which happens 2-3 times a year.
I'm looking at some of my slides that I made a few days ago, and it's like I'm seeing them
for the first time. I'm getting a tad anxious...this is not normal.

-I met some people for a movie last night (Being John Malkovitch; by the way...YOU MUST SEE
THIS MOVIE) and had a woman I met at a Halloween party introduce herself to me again. It
seems we spoke for about half an hour. I could not remember her at all, not the conversation,
nothing. She was really sweet. I would have remembered, normally. Now I feel like a yutz.

-I can't remember where I park my car, ever. It doesn't seem to matter what I do. Unless I
draw myself a map before I leave the parking lot, no way. I know this is a common problem,
but it's getting beyond weird for me. I've lost almost all sense of direction.

OK, again, maybe I'm being paranoid, but I don't think so. I know I can do better than this.
The above examples are just a few of a host that I could rattle off, so just think of how many
I forgot.

Anyway, a couple months ago, I ran across this paper while flipping through Nature:

Nature 1999 Sep 2;401(6748):63-9

Genetic enhancement of learning and memory in mice.

Tang YP, Shimizu E, Dube GR, Rampon C, Kerchner GA, Zhuo M, Liu G, Tsien JZ

Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544-1014, USA.

Hebb's rule (1949) states that learning and memory are based on modifications of synaptic strength among neurons that are simultaneously active. This implies that enhanced synaptic
coincidence detection would lead to better learning and memory. If the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor, a synaptic coincidence detector, acts as a graded switch for memory
formation, enhanced signal detection by NMDA receptors should enhance learning and memory. Here we show that overexpression of NMDA receptor 2B (NR2B) in the forebrains
of transgenic mice leads to enhanced activation of NMDA receptors, facilitating synaptic potentiation in response to stimulation at 10-100 Hz. These mice exhibit superior ability in
learning and memory in various behavioural tasks, showing that NR2B is critical in gating the age-dependent threshold for plasticity and memory formation.
NMDA-receptor-dependent modifications of synaptic efficacy, therefore, represent a unifying mechanism for associative learning and memory. Our results suggest that genetic
enhancement of mental and cognitive attributes such as intelligence and memory in mammals is feasible.


I didn't think much about it then, except that it was very interesting and exciting. But worries
about my slides triggerd a thought and I got on Medline with a hunch. I turned up some reports
on the subject of selegiline and the NMDA receptor, and found a couple suggesting an interaction.

The NMDA receptor is a channel controlling Ca2+ flux into the neuron. When this receptor binds
glutamate, it triggers long-term potentiation of neurons in the hippocampus, which is thought to be
an essential process in learning. NMDA receptor antagonists have been shown to inhibit LTP and
(interestingly)spacial learning. Also, reduced expression of another subunit of the NMDA receptor
yields mice that behave similarly to mice in chemically-induced schizophrenia models.

I the abstracts discussing selegiline, it would appear that selegiline can protect against excitotoxicity
seen under certain conditions that are known to involve NMDA-receptor agonism (indirect induction of NMDA
agonist or direct treatment with NMDA). Two of the abstracts describe experiments that show convincingly
that selegiline's neuroprotective properties are not related to its MAOI properties or protection
against oxidative stress caused by free radicals known to be produced in neuron excitotoxicity. Another
states that MAO-B inhibition is an unlikely source of the protective effect, but provides no rationale.

At any rate, it seems that selegiline might operate somehow as an NMDA receptor antagonist. It seems reasonable
to conclude that this might have deleterious effects on memory. In the case of neurodegenerative diseases,
the beneficial protective effect might more than offset the mechanistic complications, but that's not my
particular problem.

So, if this is the case, what, if anything, could one do about it? I don't thing trying to take an NMDA receptor
agonist (even if such things were available as a drug) would be a good idea because of neurotoxicity. I would think
it would be impossible to properly titrate the dose to counteract selegiline-inhibition, if such a thing is even
possible. I'm stumped. At the same time, I think this idea might have some merit.

Any thoughts?


PMID: 10448922, UI: 99376152

L-deprenyl protects mesencephalic dopamine neurons from glutamate receptor-mediated toxicity in vitro.

Mytilineou C, Radcliffe P, Leonardi EK, Werner P, Olanow CW

Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.

L-Deprenyl is a relatively selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B that delays the emergence of disability and the progression of signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Experimentally, deprenyl has also been shown to prevent neuronal cell death in various models through a mechanism that is independent of MAO-B inhibition. We examined the effect
of deprenyl on cultured mesencephalic dopamine neurons subjected to daily changes of feeding medium, an experimental paradigm that causes neuronal death associated with
activation of the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptors. Both deprenyl (0.5-50 microM) and the NMDA receptor blocker MK-801 (10 microM) protected dopamine neurons from
damage caused by medium changes. The nonselective MAO inhibitor pargyline (0.5-50 microM) was not protective, indicating that protection by deprenyl was not due to MAO
inhibition. Deprenyl (50 microM) also protected dopamine neurons from delayed neurotoxicity caused by exposure to NMDA. Because deprenyl had no inhibitory effect on NMDA
receptor binding, it is likely that deprenyl protects from events occurring downstream from activation of glutamate receptors. As excitotoxic injury has been implicated in
neurodegeneration, it is possible that deprenyl exerts its beneficial effects in Parkinson's disease by suppressing excitotoxic damage.

J Neurosci Res 1998 Apr 15;52(2):240-6

Increased neuronal cell survival after L-deprenyl treatment in experimental thiamine deficiency.

Todd KG, Butterworth RF

Neuroscience Research Unit, Andre-Viallet Clinical Research Centre, Hopital St-Luc (University of Montreal), Quebec, Canada.

Experimental thiamine deficiency results in a reproducible pattern of selective neuronal cell death. Events such as blood-brain barrier breakdown, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)
receptor-mediated excitotoxicity, and increased reactive oxygen species have been implicated in thiamine deficiency-induced neural loss. L-deprenyl protects dopaminergic,
noradrenergic, and acetylcholinergic neurons from neurotoxic, mechanical, and excitotoxic damage. In the present study, the effects of l-deprenyl on neuronal cell survival were
examined in rats made thiamine deficient by daily administration of the central thiamine antagonist pyrithiamine (0.5 mg/kg s.c.). Rats assigned to thiamine deficient or control groups
received daily injections of l-deprenyl (0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/kg/day i.p.) or vehicle until they reached a state of severe thiamine deficiency (loss of righting reflex). At this stage, thiamine
status was restored by daily injections of thiamine (10 mg/kg s.c.) for 3 days, after which the animals were killed, and their brains were processed for neuronal cell counts (cresyl violet
staining), astrocytic proliferation [glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry], and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity. All rats receiving l-deprenyl (all doses) had
significantly decreased neuronal cell loss in thalamic nuclei, in the inferior colliculus, and in the inferior olive and had a concomitant decrease in reactive astrocytic proliferation compared
with the thiamine-deficient, vehicle-treated rats. The neuroprotective effects of l-deprenyl in thiamine deficiency induced brain damage most likely result from its properties other than its
effects as an MAO-B inhibitor.

PMID: 9579414, UI: 98239017


Eur J Pharmacol 1999 Jul 14;377(1):29-34

Deprenyl rescues dopaminergic neurons in organotypic slice cultures of neonatal rat mesencephalon from
N-methyl-D-aspartate toxicity.

Shimazu S, Katsuki H, Akaike A

Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan.

The potential neuroprotective effect of (-)-deprenyl (R-N,alpha-dimethyl-N-2-propynylbenzeneethanamine) against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) excitotoxicity was investigated on
rat mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons in organotypic slice cultures. While 24 h application of NMDA (100 microM) caused a marked decrease in the number of surviving
dopaminergic neurons, simultaneous application of (-)-deprenyl significantly attenuated the cytotoxic effect of NMDA. (+)-Deprenyl showed a less potent but still significant protective
effect against NMDA insult. Pre-treatment of cultures with (-)-deprenyl conferred no protection against subsequent NMDA insult, suggesting that the protective effect of (-)-deprenyl
may be independent of its irreversible inhibitory action on monoamine oxidase B. (-)-Deprenyl was also ineffective in preventing cell death induced by H2O2. These results indicated
that (-)-deprenyl protects dopaminergic neurons from NMDA excitotoxicity through a mechanism distinct from monoamine oxidase inhibition or detoxification of reaction oxygen
species.


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