Jeremy Gilmore

The effects of ifenprodil and eliprodil on voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and in gerbil global cerebral ischaemia

Ifenprodil and eliprodil are both non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists which have been shown to inhibit neuronal Ca2+ channel currents. We have examined the effects of these agents on two defined subtypes of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and in the gerbil model of global cerebral ischaemia. Recombinantly expressed human alpha 1B-1 alpha 2b beta 1-3 Ca2+ subunits in HEK293 cells, which results in an omega-conotoxin-sensitive neuronal N-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel and omega-Aga IVA sensitive Ca2+ channels (P-type) in acutely isolated cerebellar Purkinje neurones were reversibly inhibited by ifenprodil and eliprodil. Human N-type Ca2+ channel currents were inhibited by ifenprodil and eliprodil with IC50 values of 50 microM and 10 microM respectively whereas P-type Ca2+ channel currents were inhibited reversibly by ifenprodil and eliprodil with approximate IC50 values of 60 microM and 9 microM respectively. Maximum current block observed for both channel subtypes was approximately 80% for both ifenprodil and eliprodil. For neuroprotection studies, animals were subjected to 5 min bilateral carotid artery occlusion with or without administration of either ifenprodil or eliprodil (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg i.p.) immediately after surgery followed by two further doses (2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg, respectively) at 3 and 6 h post-occlusion. Both compounds provided significant protective effects against ischaemia-induced neurodegeneration in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. These results indicate that both ifenprodil and eliprodil protect against ischaemia-induced neurodegeneration when administered post-occlusion and that they also block N and P-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.

The Synthesis of 7-Alkoxyindoles

Abstract A number of protected 7-hydroxyindoles was prepared by reaction of the protected 2-nitrophenols with vinylmagnesium bromide. Benzhydryl was shown to be the protecting group of choice, giving good yields of the indole and being readily removed for subsequent transformations of the 7-hydroxy function.

SELENOCYCLISATIONS OF HOMOALLYLIC SULFONAMIDES : A HIGHLY STEREOSELECTIVE ROUTE TO BOTH CIS- AND TRANS-2,5-DIHYDROPYRROLES

Abstract Overall 5-endo-trig selenocyclisations of homoallylic sulfonamides proceed smoothly and highly stereoselectively, under a selection of conditions, to give excellent yields of selenopyrrolidines and the related trans- or cis-2,5-dihydropyrroles, after oxidation and elimination.

A method for effectively favouring 5-endo- over 5-exo-cyclisations

Abstract Iodocyclisation of sulfonamido-alcohol 6 proceeds by a 5-exo pathway to give amino-THFs 9 whereas the furyl derivative 10 gives the pyrrolidines 11 and 12 , most likely by an alternative 5-exo mechanism, instigated by the furan ring.

LY393615, a novel neuronal Ca2+ and Na+ channel blocker with neuroprotective effects in models of in vitro and in vivo cerebral ischemia

In the present studies we have examined the effects of a new calcium channel blocker, LY393615 ((N-Butyl-[5,5-bis-(4-fluorophenyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl]methylamine hydrochloride, NCC1048) in a model of hypoxia-hypoglycaemia in vitro and in a gerbil model of global and in two rat models of focal cerebral ischaemia in vivo. Results indicated that LY393615 protected against hypoxia-hypoglycaemic insults in brain slices and also provided significant protection against ischaemia-induced hippocampal damage in gerbil global cerebral ischaemia when dosed at 10, 12.5 (P<0.05) or 15 mg/kg i.p. (P<0.01) 30 min before and 2 h 30 min after occlusion. The compound penetrated the brain well after a 15 mg/kg i.p. dose and had a half-life of 2.5 h. In further studies LY393615 was protective 1 h post-occlusion when administered at 15 mg/kg i.p. followed by 2 doses of 5 mg/kg i.p. 2 and 3 h later. LY393615 dosed at 15 mg/kg i.p. followed by 2 further doses of 5 mg/kg i.p. (2 and 3 h later) also produced a significant reduction in the infarct volume following Endothelin-1 (Et-1) middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat when administration was initiated immediately (P<0.01) or 1 h (P<0.05) after occlusion. The compound was also evaluated in the intraluminal monofilament model of focal ischaemia. The animals had the middle cerebral artery occluded for 2 h, and 15 min after reperfusion LY393615 was administered at 15 mg/kg i.p. followed by 2 mg/kg/h i.v. infusion for 6 h. There was no reduction in infarct volume using this dosing protocol. In conclusion, in the present studies we have reported that a novel calcium channel blocker, LY393615, with good bioavailability protects against neuronal damage caused by hypoxia-hypoglycaemia in vitro and both global and focal cerebral ischaemia in vivo. The compound is neuroprotective when administered post-occlusion and may therefore be a useful anti-ischaemic agent.

An approach to 2,3-dihydropyrroles and β-iodopyrroles based on 5-endo-dig cyclisations

A representative series of homopropargylic sulfonamides 19 and 22b have been found to undergo smooth 5-endo-dig cyclisation upon exposure to excess iodine in acetonitrile containing potassium carbonate. The resulting 4-iodo-2,3-dihydropyrroles 23 readily react with two equivalents of DBU in DMF at 20 °C to give the corresponding β-iodopyrroles 24 and 26 in excellent yields by the elimination of toluene-p-sulfinic acid. Use of less than two equivalents of base results in some loss of iodine. The iodo-2,3-dihydropyrroles 23 can be used in palladium-catalysed coupling reactions as shown by the efficient formation of the Sonogashira product 29 under mild conditions.

The synthesis of 5-substituted proline derivatives and of 5-substituted pyrrole-2-carboxylates by 5-endo cyclisations featuring a method for effectively favouring these with respect to 5-exo cyclisations

Overall 5-endo cyclisations of the C-allylic glycine sulfonamides 5 lead to usually excellent yields of the 2,5-cis- or 2,5-trans-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylates 11 and 12 respectively, depending upon whether base is absent or present. While reductions to the corresponding pyrrolidine-2-methanols 13 proved efficient, subsequent eliminations of the elements of hydrogen iodide gave mixtures of products 14–16. Suitably positioned hydroxy groups compete successfully with the sulfonamide via a 5-exo cyclisation mode. However, when such a substrate contains a furan ring attached to the alkene function (21), then cyclisation does occur at the sulfonamide, presumably by participation of the furan oxygen, to give an iodopyrrolidine-2-methanol 13a. Finally, base-induced elimination of both hydrogen iodide and toluene-p-sulfinic acid from the initial iodopyrrolidines 11 and 12 leads to 5-substituted pyrrole-2-carboxylates 26. Overall, this sequence is complementary to the Kenner pyrrole synthesis.

Endogenously formed leukotriene C4 activates LTC4 receptors in guinea pig tracheal strips

The bioconversion of leukotriene (LT) C4 to LTD4 via gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase is clearly defined in guinea pig trachea. Acivicin, an inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, was used to study the contractile responses elicited by either endogenously released or exogenously administered LTC4 and the antagonistic nature of LY 171883 and ICI 204,219, LTD4/LTE4 receptor antagonists, on guinea pig tracheal strips. Pretreating tracheal strips with acivicin resulted in a concentration-related, selective leftward shift in the LTC4 concentration-response curves. Potency of LTC4 was increased 3-fold. Likewise, antigen concentration response curves were potentiated in acivicin-pretreated tissues. Antagonism of LTC4 and antigen contractile responses by LY 171883 and ICI 204,219 were reduced or abolished by acivicin-pretreatment. In contrast, these receptor antagonists effectively blocked LTD4 responses in control and acivicin-pretreated tissues. The results demonstrated that inhibition of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase by acivicin blocked the bioconversion of LTC4 to LTD4 regardless of the source of LTC4. Data indicated that endogenously formed LTC4 was able to activate the LTC4 receptor in guinea pig tracheal strips.

INHIBITORY ACTIONS OF SYNTHESISED POLYAMINE SPIDER TOXINS AND THEIR ANALOGUES ON NEURONAL VOLTAGE-ACTIVATED CALCIUM CURRENTS

Abstract The whole cell variant of the patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the actions of polyamine spider toxins and their analogues on high voltage-activated Ca 2+ currents. The actions of synthesised FTX (putative natural toxin from the American funnel web spider), sFTX-3.3, Orn-FTX-3.3 and Lys-FTX-3.3 (synthetic analogues of FTX) were studied using cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones from neonatal rats, C2D7 cells (HEK293 cells stably coexpressing recombinant human N-type voltage-activated Ca 2+ channel, α 1B-1 - α 2b δβ 1b subunits) and freshly isolated cerebellar Purkinje neurones. In dorsal root ganglion neurones, sFTX-3.3 (10 μ M) inhibited high voltage-activated Ca 2+ currents evoked by depolarisations to 0 mV from a holding potential of −90 mV. Partial overlap in Ca 2+ current sensitivity to the polyamine sFTX-3.3 and the peptide spider toxin ω -Aga IVA was observed. However, evidence also suggests sFTX-3.3 and ω -Aga IVA do not show complete pharmacological overlap and that distinct parts of the Ca 2+ current are sensitive to one of two inhibitors. The arginine group on sFTX-3.3 appears to be important for its inhibitory action on Ca 2+ currents, because analogues where this amino acid was replaced with either ornithine (Orn-FTX-3.3) or lysine (Lys-FTX-3.3) were relatively inactive at concentrations below 1 mM. Synthesised FTX (100 μ M) was inactive as an inhibitor of Ca 2+ currents recorded from dorsal root ganglion and only produced modest effects in Purkinje neurones and C2D7 cells. At a concentration of 1 mM, nonselective actions were observed that indicated that synthesised FTX and sFTX-3.3 could reversibly inhibit both N- and P-type Ca 2+ channels equally well. In conclusion, the potency of polyamines as nonselective inhibitors of Ca 2+ channels is in part determined by the presence of a terminal arginine, and this may involve an interaction between terminal guanidino groups with Ca 2+ binding sites.

Chapter 6. Neuronal Calcium Channels

Publisher Summary The understanding of the biology of neuronal calcium channels has developed significantly in recent times with the recognition of at least six subtypes of voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) found in the central nervous system (CNS). VDCC belong to a class of proteins that mediate ionic movements across excitable cell membranes in response to the changes in membrane potential. The subtypes of VDCC are commonly referred to as L, N, P, Q, R, and T that are divided into two groups, low voltage activated (LVA) and high voltage activated (HVA), on the basis of requirement of depolarization for activation. Molecular biology studies are revealing the subunit composition of these individual VDCC subtypes and allowing the development of cloned cell lines, expressing single populations of neuronal VDCCs. The chapter discusses the neuronal VDCCs of the N and P-Q families, because of their likely relevance to the neurotransmitter release. N-type channels are uniquely blocked by nanomolar concentrations of a peptide toxin, ω-CgTx-GVIA, found in the venom of a fish hunting mollusc, Conus geographus . Inhibition of a calcium channel by this toxin is widely accepted as being indicative of N type pharmacology. The inhibition is practically irreversible whereas that by another selective toxin, ω-CmTx-MVIIA from Conus magus, is readily reversible. There are known to be at least six a1 genes coding for the pore-forming proteins of HVA VDCCs. Expression of the cloned subunits in oocytes and mammalian cell lines is allowing comparison of the biophysics and pharmacologies of native and engineered channels. All cloned a1 subunits give rise to HVA channels. Expression of α 1A and α 1B gives rise to slowly inactivating channels whereas those expressed by α 1E genes are rapidly inactivating and more akin to R channels. Like R channels, α 1E expression leads to VDCCs that are insensitive to ω-CgTx-GVIA, ω-CmTx-MVIIC, and ω-Aga-IVA.