Abstract L-dihydroxyphenylalanine-(L-dopa) has been used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease for decades. The
reactive oxygen species and quinone formation generated in the enzymatical auto-oxidation of L-dopa has been shown to induce neuronal damage or cell death. SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to 5, 50, 100 or 500 μM L-dopa either by conventional or sustained delivery demonstrated reductions in cell numbers as early as 24 hours in the conventional group whereas sustained drug delivery demonstrated slight reductions beginning at 48 hours. Acetylcholine potentiated the toxic effects of L-dopa 50 μM in both conventional and sustained delivery approaches with corresponding…
