Effects of low and high deprenyl dose on antioxidant enzyme activities in the adult rat brain.

We evaluated the effects of low dose deprenyl (LDD, 0.0025 mg/kg per day) and high dose deprenyl (HDD, 0.25 mg/kg per day) treatment of male Wistar rats for 30 days on the activities of SOD and CAT in the cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. Total SOD and MnSOD activities were increased with LDD (p <0.05) in the cortex (0.74 ± 0.03; 0.31 ± 0.02), striatum (0.75 ± 0.02; 0.27 ± 0.03) and CA1 region of the hippocampus (0.75 ± 0.02; 0.29 ± 0.03) compared to the control (0.53 ± 0.02; 0.15 ± 0.02), but reduced (p <0.05) with HDD compared to the LDD group. CAT activity was increased (p <0.05) with LDD in the cortex (27.34 ± 3.11), striatum (22.22 ± 1.85), and hippocampal CA1 region (16.62 ± 2.15) compared to control (10.33 ± 1.01), while a decrease was induced by HDD in the striatum (9.85 ± 1.09) compared to LDD. There was a significant (p <0.05) difference in number of Fluoro Jade B positive CA1 neurons induced by LDD (21.14 ± 2.85%) and HDD (12.61 ± 1.42%), as well as the number of NeuN positive CA1 neurons after LDD (183.35 ± 11.14 cells/mm) and HDD (238.45 ± 14.11 cells/mm (p < 0.05). Deprenyl showed a potential in improving the neurological outcome and reducing the oxidative damage.

The effect of R-(-)-deprenyl administration on antioxidant enzymes in rat testis.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of R-(-)-deprenyl administration on the activity and localization of superoxide dismutases (SODs) and catalase (CAT) in rat testis. After 30 days of intraperitoneal administration of either saline (control) or R-(-)-deprenyl dissolved in saline at concentrations of 0.0025mg/kg (low dose of deprenyl, LDD) or 0.25mg/kg (high dose of deprenyl, HDD), males were killed by thiopental, and their testes were collected. We found that deprenyl administration significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and this effect varied by dosage. LDD caused significant elevation of all monitored enzymes, but HDD did not increase the activity of SOD2. Employing immunohistochemistry, we detected enzymes predominantly in Leydig cells (SOD1, SOD2, CAT), in late spermatids and residual bodies (SOD1, SOD2), and in primary spermatocytes (SOD2). Histopathological examination did not reveal testicular damage in experimental groups compared to control. Deprenyl proved to be a potent stimulator of antioxidant enzymes in rat testes; therefore, it could be used in the therapy of male infertility. On the other hand, it is crucial to choose a proper dose, since lower dose was more competent compared to a dosage that was one hundred times higher.