Pharmacology and neuroprotective properties of rasagiline.

Rasagiline [R(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindane] is a selective irreversible inhibitor of MAO-B which is not metabolised to amphetamine-like derivatives. Like deprenyl, when given to rats in a dose selective for inhibition of MAO-B, it does not affect striatal extracellular fluid dopamine levels, but when administered chronically (21 days) it increased striatal microdialysate dopamine without reduction in deaminated metabolites. Similarly to deprenyl, rasagiline (10(-6)M) increased the percentage of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells in a primary culture of rat fetal mesencephalic cells (6 days in culture). Rasagiline, but not deprenyl, also increased the number of neurons per field in this organotypic culture.