Pergolide protects SH-SY5Y cells against neurodegeneration induced by H₂O₂

We found that pergolide, a dopamine D1/D2 receptor agonist used in the clinical therapy of Parkinson's disease, protects SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells from cell death induced by a brief pulse (15 min) of 1 mM H₂O₂. Neuroprotection was found when pergolide was added to the culture medium either simultaneously with (EC₅₀ = 60 nM) or 2 h before (EC₅₀ = 40 nM) H₂O₂ treatment. These effects were not blocked by different dopamine receptor antagonists. Our data suggest that pergolide, independently of dopamine receptor stimulation, may interfere with the early phases of the oxidative stress-induced neurotoxic process.