Role of monoamine oxidase in aminopropionitrile‐induced neurotoxicity

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Abstract
Oxidation of aminopropionitriles was measured in vitro with both rat liver mitochondria and bovine plasma monoamine oxidase (MAO). The nonneurotoxic aminonitrile β‐aminopropionitrile (BAPN) was oxidized at a significantly higher rate (p < .05) than either of the neurotoxic aminonitriles tested; 3,3'‐iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) and 3,3'‐dimethylaminopropionitrile (DMAPN). DMAPN was a poor substrate for both mitochondrial and plasma MAO. None of the aminonitriles tested were found to inhibit MAO activity in rat brain or liver in vivo. Inhibition of MAO activity with pargy‐line in vivo did not affect the pattern of IDPN‐ or DMAPN‐induced toxicity. These results suggest that monoamine oxidase is not involved in aminonitrile‐induced neurotoxicity.