Cyclooxygenase-independent neuroprotective effects of aspirin against dopamine quinone-induced neurotoxicity.

Prostaglandin H synthase exerts not only cyclooxygenase activity but also peroxidase activity. The latter activity of the enzyme is thought to couple with oxidation of dopamine to dopamine quinone. Therefore, it has been proposed that cyclooxygenase inhibitors could suppress dopamine quinone formation.

Neuroprotective effects of zonisamide target astrocyte.

Objective: Recent double-blind, controlled trials in Japan showed that the antiepileptic agent zonisamide (ZNS) improves the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Glutathione (GSH) exerts antioxidative activity through quenching reactive oxygen species and dopamine quinone. GSH depletion within dopaminergic neurons impairs mitochondrial complex I activity, followed by age-dependent nigrostriatal neurodegeneration.

Protective effects of interferon-gamma against methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity.

Repeated injections of methamphetamine (METH) cause degeneration of striatal dopaminergic nerve terminals. In the present study, we examined the effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on METH-induced striatal neurotoxicity in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of IFN-gamma before METH injection significantly prevented METH-induced reduction of striatal dopamine transporter (DAT)-positive signals and hyperthermia.