Selegiline is neuroprotective in primary brain cultures treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium

The ability of selegiline to protect against the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been attributed to the inhibition of the conversion of MPTP to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), catalyzed by monoamine oxidase-B. Selegiline, however, has been found to rescue neurons in MPP(+)-treated mice after they have sustained lethal damage independently of monoamine oxidase-B inhibition. In our present study, we investigate whether selegiline can protect and/or rescue MPP(+)-injured dopaminergic neurons in co-cultures of mesencephalic and striatal cells of embryonic C57B1/6 mouse brains. Cells were exposed to selegiline (1, 10, 100 microM) in three different schemes: (i) in control cultures on the 8th day for 48 h; (ii) pretreatment: on the 8th day for 48 h, followed by administration of MPP+ (0.5 microM) on the 9th day for 24 h; (iii) delayed treatment: on the 9th day for 48 h, while MPP+ was administered on the 8th day and remained in culture during treatment with selegiline. In the delayed scheme, selegiline (1 microM) increased dopamine content, number of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive cells and astrocytes in the cultures. We question whether selegiline protects cells injured by a toxic stressor via an astrocyte-mediated mechanism.