The effect of (-) deprenyl was investigated both on the stereotyped behavior and on other types of activities induced by various dopamine (DA) agonists. (-) Deprenyl was given in a single dose, 1 h prior to the DA agonists. 1-2 mg/kg sc (-) deprenyl decreased the stereotypy induced by amphetamine (AMPH, 2.5 mg/kg sc), but 20 mg/kg was needed to reduce the stereotypy-inducing effect of apomorphine (APO, 0.3 mg/kg sc). The stereotypy-inducing effect of phenyl-ethyl-amine (PEA, 40 mg/kg sc) was significantly enhanced by 0.25 mg/kg sc (-) deprenyl pretreatment. The PEA or AMPH-induced increase in the horizontal activity (locomotion) and the vertical activity (rearing) remained unchanged after a single dose of (-) deprenyl, showing that this drug acts primarily on the nigro-striatal dopaminergic system.

The effect of repeated administration of the MAO-B enzyme blocker (-)deprenyl on the apomorphine (APO) sensitivity of dopamine (DA) receptors was investigated in rats, and compared to the effect of other drugs influencing the dopaminergic system. APO was given either in a high dose (0.1-0.6 mg/kg), which induces stereotyped behaviour or in a smaller one (0.02 mg/kg) causing sedation. Repeated administration of all the other drugs investigated (except (-)deprenyl), i.e. haloperidol, d-amphetamine, (1 mg/kg s.c., respectively) and the MAO-A blocker clorgyline (0.25 mg/kg s.c.) altered the efficiency of APO on the stereotypy. Haloperidol, clorgyline (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) and imipramine (10 mg/kg i.p.) attenuated the APO-sedation. The long-lasting administration of (-)deprenyl (0.25 mg/kg s.c., daily for 42 days) however, left the effects of APO unchanged, demonstrating that (-)deprenyl facilitates the dopaminergic tone in the rat brain without altering the sensitivity of DA receptors.