L-deprenyl increases the survival of retinal neuronal cell line E1A-NR₃ dying by apoptosis

Purpose. L-deprenyl, an antiparkinsonian drug, has been suggested to have potential neuroprotective properties by a yet undetermined mechanism. We tested the activity of L-deprenyl to protect retinal neuronal cell line E1A-NR3 from death by apoptosis (programmed cell death) in tissue culture after serum deprivation. Methods. Immortalized rat retinal cell line E1A-NR3 cells were cultivated in DMEM(+) medium. Cell death was induced through serum deprivation. L-deprenyl was added in different concentrations after serum deprivation and the control group was left without deprenyl. Cell counts of L-deprenyl treated and control groups were performed using the hemocytometer. Dead cells were identified using Trypan blue uptake. Results. Cell survival with L-deprenyl treatment was significantly higher than the control group as seen in the table. Deprenyl cone. Mean SD t-value p-value 0.01 μM 9.75 × 10⁴ 2.46 × 10⁴ 2.8 < 0.05 0.1 μM 10.16 × 10⁴ 1.28 × 10⁴ 5.6 < 0.01 1 μM 9.75 × 10⁴ 1.32 × 10⁴ 5.1 < 0.01 10 μM 12.66 × 10⁴ 2.25 × 10⁴ 5.3 < 0.01 100 μM 13.16 × 10⁴ 1.70 × 10⁴ 7.4 < 0.01 control 5.75 × 10⁴ 0.25 × 10⁴ Conclusion. The significant survival of cells treated with L-deprenyl may suggest a role as a neuroprotective agent for retinal neuronal cells.