Mitochondria determine the survival and death in apoptosis by an endogenous neurotoxin, N-methyl(R)salsolinol, and neuroprotection by propargylamines
by
Naoi M, Maruyama W, Akao Y, Yi H.
Department of Brain Sciences,
Institute of Applied Biochemistry,
Mitake, Gifu, Japan.
mnaoi@giib.or.jp
J Neural Transm. 2002 May;109(5-6):607-21.

ABSTRACT

In neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, selective neuronal death characterizes clinical signs and symptoms. Recently apoptosis was reported to be a common type of cell death in some disorders, and well-controlled apoptotic cascade is proposed to be a target of neuroprotective therapy. In our studies to find endogenous neurotoxins as a pathogenic factor in Parkinson's disease, dopamine-derived N-methyl(R)salsolinol was found to induce apoptosis in dopamine neurons of rat models of Parkinson's disease. In human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells, apoptosis was initiated by decline in mitochondrial membrane potential, and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein regulated apoptotic signal transduction. In addition, a series of propargylamines were found to prevent apoptosis through stabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential, which also involved Bcl-2. The role of mitochondria and the involvement of Bcl-2 in apoptosis and neuroprotection were clearly demonstrated using isolated mitochondria. These results indicate that mitochondria are the site to determine the cell death induced by neurotoxins and also the neuroprotection by anti-apoptotic propargylamines.

MAOIs
Rasagiline
Neuroprotection
Rasagiline: structure
MAO-b inhibitors/PD
Anti-apoptotic activity
Molecular mechanisms
Rasagiline pharmacology
Induction of pro-survival genes
Antioxidant strategies against aging
Anti-Alzheimer/anti-Parkinson's drugs
Rasagiline versus selegiline metabolites
Rasagiline/ anti-apoptotic bcl-2 gene family
Dual AChE and MAO inhibitors and Alzheimer's
Rasagiline v selegiline: neuronal survival effects
Rasagiline (Agilect) in early Parkinson's disease

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family