Gas-chromatographic study on the stereoselectivity of deprenyl metabolism

The pharmacology of selegiline

Selegiline, the R-optical enantiomer of deprenyl (phenyl-isopropyl-methyl-propargylamine), was almost exclusively used MAO-B inhibitor during the past decades to treat Parkinson's disease. Oral treatment prolongs the need of levodopa administration. Selegiline is rapidly metabolized by the microsomal enzymes to amphetamine, methamphetamine, and desmethyl-deprenyl. In addition, the flavin-containing monooxigenase is synthesizing deprenyl-N-oxide. Selegiline in rather low concentrations (10⁻⁹-10⁻¹³ M), does not influence MAO-B, but it has an antiapoptotic activity in tissue culture. The neuroprotective effect of selegiline has a biphasic character. In higher concentrations than 10⁻⁷ M increases the rate of apoptosis (proapoptotic activity). The metabolites are also taking part in the complex pharmacological activity of selegiline. The simultaneous presence of the pro- and antiapoptotic effects of selegiline and its metabolites frequently hindered its clinical usage. During the past years rasagiline has been introduced to replace selegiline in clinical application. MAO-B inhibitors beside their effect on the enzyme MAO-B could hold different spectrum of pharmacological activities. Selegiline is administered orally and it possesses an intensive "first pass" metabolism. To circumvent the "first pass" metabolism, parenteral administration of the drug might lead to different distribution and pharmacological activity of selegiline.

R-deprenyl: pharmacological spectrum of its activity

Deprenyl has been discovered by Knoll and co-workers. The R-enantiomer of deprenyl (selegiline) is a selective and irreversible inhibitor of the B-isoform of monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) enzyme. Due to its dopamine potentiating and possible neuroprotective properties it has an established role in the treatment of parkinsonian patients. By inhibiting MAO-B enzyme, R-deprenyl decreases the formation of hydrogen peroxide, alleviating the oxidative stress also reduced by increased expression of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutases and catalase) reported during chronic treatment. It was shown to prevent the detrimental effects of neurotoxins like MPTP and DSP-4. R-Deprenyl elicits neuroprotective and neuronal rescue activities in concentrations too low to inhibit MAO-B. It is extensively metabolized and some of the metabolites possess pharmacological activities, thus their contribution to neuroprotective properties was also suggested. The recently identified deprenyl-N-oxide is extensively studied in our laboratory. Effects other than neuroprotection, like influencing cell adhesion and proliferation cannot be neglected.

Detection of levorotatory methamphetamine and levorotatory amphetamine in urine after ingestion of an overdose of selegiline

In this study, we measured the urine concentrations of methamphetamine and amphetamine as metabolites of selegiline after ingestion of an overdose of selegiline. A patient who had developed Parkinson disease took selegiline in a suicide attempt. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with trifluoroacetic acid-derivatization revealed the presence of methamphetamine and amphetamine in the patient's urine at concentrations of 0.62 microg/ml and 0.25 microg/ml, respectively. To determine the stereospecificity of the methamphetamine and amphetamine, a urine sample was analyzed by GC-MS after derivatization with N-(trifluoroacetyl)-l-prolyl chloride. The methamphetamine and amphetamine were levorotatory in form. The ratio of the methamphetamine to amphetamine concentration in the urine was 2.5. This value is consistent with other case reports of ingestion of selegiline, which suggests that the methamphetamine to amphetamine concentration ratio in urine is useful information for indicating use of selegiline.

Detection of Nepsilon-monomethyllysine using high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Nepsilon-Monomethyllysine was identified in the serum, urine, brain, and liver samples of rats treated per os with L-deprenyl. The identification procedure included reaction with Fmoc chloride, clean-up, and analysis using HPLC-UV-MS. Oral administration of (-)-N-14C-methyl-N-propynyl(2-phenyl-1-methyl)ethylammonium hydrochloride L-deprenyl) to rats resulted in transfer of the radiolabelled methyl group to the Nepsilon-amino group of the endogenous lysine. The radiolabelled Nepsilon-monomethyllysine was urinary eliminated together with the other radiolabelled deprenyl metabolites, such as deprenyl-N-oxide and methamphetamine. The presence of Nepsilon-monomethyllysine has also been traced, and its concentrations were compared in the serum, liver and brain of rats subjected to L-deprenyl treatment. Methyl group transfer from the L-deprenyl to endogenous compounds; and the urinary elimination of their products may offer a vital way to eliminate or to decrease the degree of drug transmethylation to the lysine constituents of blood vessels' proteins.

A novel D2-dopaminergic and alpha2-adrenoceptor receptor agonist induces substantial and prolonged IOP decrease in normotensive rabbits

The effects of a novel and selective D2-dopaminergic/alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, CHF1035, and its metabolite CHF1024 on intraocular pressure (IOP) were determined in rabbits. Because CHF1035 is a mixture of two enantiomers, CHF1800 (+) and CHF1810 (-), pure enantiomers were also studied to determine possible differences in IOP-decreasing ability depending on the stereochemistry of the molecule. CHF1035, CHF1800 (+), CHF1810 (-), CHF1024, brimonidine and 0.9% NaCl were administered topically to rabbits and IOP was then measured at fixed time intervals. The dose-response profile (0.01-1.0% w/v) was determined for CHF1035. CHF1035 and its metabolite CHF1024 significantly lowered IOP in the treated eyes. CHF1035 showed a maximum IOP decrease (7.6 +/- 1.5 mmHg) 5 h post-dosing, whereas the metabolite CHF1024 showed a maximum decrease in IOP (7.0 +/- 0.8 mmHg) 3 h post-dosing. The maximum IOP decrease produced by CHF1035 in the treated eye was comparable with that produced by brimonidine (7.8 +/- 0.9 mmHg), but CHF1035 had a significantly longer duration of action. Unlike brimonidine, CHF1035 and CHF1024 did not decrease IOP in the untreated eye. CHF1810 (-) lowered the IOP more than CHF1800 (+). No irritation, evaluated as eyelid closure, was observed after topical administration of any of the compounds. Only in the case of CHF1035 1% solution, two rabbits out of six closed the eye for 30-45 s. In conclusion, CHF1035 and its metabolite CHF1024 significantly decreased the IOP in rabbits, and are potential novel IOP lowering agents. Especially, CHF1035 produced a substantial decrease in IOP for a prolonged period of time, and thus may prove useful in glaucoma therapy.

Precursor medications as a source of methamphetamine and/or amphetamine positive drug testing results

Medical Review Officer interpretation of laboratory results is an important component of drug testing programs. The clinical evaluation of laboratory results to assess the possibility of appropriate medical use of a drug is a task with many different facets, depending on the drug class considered. This intercession prevents the reporting of positive results unless it is apparent that drugs were used illicitly. In addition to the commonly encountered prescribed drugs that yield positive drug testing results, other sources of positive results must be considered. This review describes a series of compounds referred to as "precursor" drugs that are metabolized by the body to amphetamine and/or methamphetamine. These compounds lead to positive results for amphetamines even though neither amphetamine nor methamphetamine were used, a possibility that must be considered in the review of laboratory results. Description of the drugs, their clinical indications, and results seen following administration are provided. This information allows for the informed evaluation of results with regard to the potential involvement of these drugs.