A simple method for screening monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory drugs for type preference

A simple method is described for screening monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors for preferential action on either type A or type B MAO. Kynuramine, a substrate for both types of MAO, was used and the sources of enzyme were rat heart (type A) and mouse heart (type B). The method clearly showed that clorgyline (a preferential type A inhibitor) preferentially inhibited rat heart MAO; whereas pargyline (a preferential type B inhibitor) preferentially inhibited mouse heart MAO. Pheniprazine, an inhibitor without type preference, was equally effective in the two tissues. The method was used to substantiate a report by others that amphetamine has preferential inhibitory action against type A MAO.