Protection of dopaminergic neurons in primary culture by lisuride

• Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission Vol. 109; no. 2; pp. 157 - 169
• Main Authors: GILLE, G, RAUSCH, W.-D, HUNG, S.-T, MOLDZIO, R, NGYUEN, A, JANETZKY, B, ENGFER, A, REICHMANN, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wien Springer 01-02-2002; New York, NY Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium - toxicity; Animals; Antiparkinson Agents - pharmacology; Antiparkinson Agents - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Cytoprotection; Dopamine - physiology; Levodopa - toxicity; Lisuride - pharmacology; Medical sciences; Mesencephalon - drug effects; Mesencephalon - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; Neuropharmacology; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Oxidative stress; Nervous system diseases; Agonist; Dopamine receptor; Rodentia; Parkinson disease; Neuroprotective agent; Antiparkinson agent; In vitro; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Dopaminergic neuron; Degenerative disease; Levodopa; Lisuride
• ISSN: 0300-9564; 1435-1463
• DOI: 10.1007/s007020200011

Dopamine agonists play an important role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease by reducing the administration of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). The enzymatic and non-enzymatic conversion of L-DOPA is suspected to increase oxidative stress, which leads to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. In primary mouse mesencephalic cultures we show that the dopamine D1/D2 receptor agonist lisuride, in a concentration range of 0.001-1 microM, enhances the survival of dopaminergic neurons, protects against toxicity induced by L-DOPA or 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) and stimulates 3H-dopamine uptake. Lisuride also reduces anaerobic metabolism during incubation with L-DOPA. The present findings suggest that lisuride may have trophic/survival-promoting properties and potentially reduces oxidative stress.