Lars Gawell

Specific in vitro and in vivo binding of 3H-raclopride. A potent substituted benzamide drug with high affinity for dopamine D-2 receptors in the rat brain.

The substituted benzamide drug raclopride, [((-)-(S)-3,5-dichloro-N-((1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl) methyl)-6-methoxy-salicylamide tartrate; FLA 870(-); A40664] was shown to be a potent and selective antagonist of dopamine D-2 receptors by its high affinity for striatal 3H-spiperone binding sites and low potency to block dopamine stimulated adenylate cyclase in vitro. In vitro studies showed that 3H-raclopride binds with a high affinity (KD = 1.2 nM) and a low proportion of non-specific binding to rat striatal homogenates. The binding of 3H-raclopride is saturable (Bmax = 23.5 pmoles/g wet wt) and reversible (dissociation half-time = 30 min) with a regional distribution of the specifically bound drug showing the following rank-order: striatum greater than nucleus accumbens greater than olfactory tubercle greater than septum greater than hypothalamus greater than hippocampus greater than frontal cortex. After in vivo administration, 3H-raclopride accumulates preferentially in dopamine rich brain areas with approximately 10 times higher levels in the striatum than in the cerebellum, when examined 30 min after injection. The in vivo binding of 3H-raclopride was saturable, reversible and showed a low component of non-specific binding. More than 90% of the drug reached the brain in a non-metabolized form as judged by thin-layer chromatography. Pharmacological analysis of 3H-raclopride binding showed that it could be displaced by dopamine agonists and antagonists but not by serotoninergic or noradrenergic drugs. Taken together, the results suggest that 3H-raclopride labels dopamine D-2 receptors with high specificity in the rat brain both in vitro and in vivo, and thus, that it should be a useful tool in studies of central dopamine D-2 receptors.

Some in vitro receptor binding properties of [3H]eticlopride, a novel substituted benzamide, selective for dopamine-D2 receptors in the rat brain

The substituted benzamide compound eticlopride, (S)-(-)-5-chloro-3-ethyl-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl) methyl]-6-methoxysalicylamide hydrochloride (FLB 131), has been shown to selectively block dopamine-D2 binding sites in the rat brain. The compound was tritium-labelled to high specific radioactivity and was used for in vitro receptor binding studies. [3H]Eticlopride was found to bind specifically to rat brain homogenates with the highest binding in the striatum and lowest in the hippocampus. The binding was saturable with a high number of binding sites (49.5 pmol/g) and with very high affinity (0.17 nM). As with other benzamides, the binding of [3H]eticlopride was highly sodium-dependent. Lesioning of the striatal neurons with ibotenic acid reduced the binding by 50% while lesioning of the nigrostriatal pathways with 6-hydroxydopamine was without effect on the observed binding. The binding of [3H]eticlopride was inhibited potently by neuroleptic drugs, while compounds known not to interact with the dopamine-D2 binding sites were inactive. It is concluded that this new dopamine-D2 antagonist may be a useful tool for the study of dopamine-D2 binding sites due to its high affinity and good selectivity.

Raclopride, a new selective ligand for the dopamine-D2 receptors

1. The use of raclopride, a new compound of the salicylamide series, as a ligand for the labelling of dopamine-D2 receptors in vitro and in vivo is described. 2. 3H-Raclopride has a high affinity for the dopamine-D2 receptors (Kd = 1 nM in rat striatum) with much less affinity for any other receptor. 3. 3H-Raclopride enters the brain easily and has therefore also been used in in vivo binding and autoradiography. The nonspecific binding is very low both in vitro and in vivo. 4. Raclopride has been labelled with 11C, and is used as a marker for dopamine-D2 receptors in the living human brain using positron emission tomography.

Regional in vivo binding of the substituted benzamide [3H]eticlopride in the rat brain: Evidence for selective labelling of dopamine receptors

The novel substituted benzamide eticlopride, (S)-(-)-5-chloro-3-ethyl-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-6-methoxy salicylamide hydrochloride (A38503; FLB 131), was radiolabelled to high specific activity and used for in vivo receptor binding studies in the rat brain. Intravenous injections of [3H]eticlopride resulted in a rapid accumulation of radioactivity in several brain regions: striatum greater than olfactory tubercle greater than septum greater than substantia nigra greater than frontal cortex greater than cerebellum. Approximately 95% of the radioactivity recovered from the striatum was in the form of authentic eticlopride, as determined by thin-layer chromatography. Two hours after injection, the ratio between the amount of radioactivity present in the striatum and in the cerebellum was approximately 10:1. The in vivo binding of [3H]eticlopride was saturable in all dopamine-rich areas, with a very low proportion of non-specific binding. The specific in vivo binding of [3H]eticlopride was blocked by several dopamine antagonists, including haloperidol, (+)-butaclamol, spiperone, d,l-sulpiride and remoxipride. The dopamine agonist N-n-propylnorapomorphine, but not apomorphine, was found to be a potent blocker of in vivo [3H]eticlopride binding. Serotonin and noradrenaline receptor antagonists did not prevent the in vivo binding of [3H]eticlopride. Autoradiographic analysis of the in vivo [3H]eticlopride binding showed a high density of binding sites in the striatum, nucleus accumbens and the olfactory tubercle. Moderate binding was found in the hippocampal formation and in the entorhinal area, but little or no binding was detected in other cortical regions. [3H]Eticlopride binding in all these areas was blocked by pretreatment with (+)-butaclamol. Taken together, these findings show that the substituted benzamide compound [3H]eticlopride passes readily into the brain and binds with high specificity to dopamine or neuroleptic receptors in dopamine-rich brain areas. Thus, eticlopride may be a useful tool in studies of dopamine D-2 receptors in vivo.

Large scale synthesis and absolute configuration of (-)-3-ppp, a selective dopamine autoreceptor agonist

Abstract A large scale synthesis for (-)-3-PPP has been developed. The racemic methoxy compound 1 was prepared in a three step procedure in 63% yield. This was resolved as a diastereomeric salt by crystallization of the (-)-di-p-toluoyltartrate. Two crystallizations gave the pure (-)-enantiomer 2 in 50% of the theoretical yield and with an enantiomeric excess of >95%. Demethylation using aqueous HBr gave (-)-3-PPP, ( 3 ). Compound 2 was also prepared in a stereoselective synthesis from S -(-)- N-propyl-2- chloromethylpyrrolidine 4 . By X-ray crystallography it was shown that (-)-3-PPP has the S -configuration at the chiral carbon.

Eticlopride, a Potent Substituted Benzamide Compound Useful for the Labelling of Rat Central Dopamine-D2 Receptors in vitro and in vivo

The new substituted benzamide compound eticlopride ((S)-(-)-5-chloro-3-ethyl-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-6-methoxysalicylamide hydrochloride; FLB 131) has been shown to selectively block the dopamine-D2 receptors in the rat brain. Eticlopride was thus found to inhibit the apomorphine induced syndrome at very low doses (ED50 for inhibition of stereotypies: 200 nmol/kg i.p. and for hyperactivity: 23 nmol/kg i.p.). Similar to other substituted benzamides eticlopride induces a weak form of catalepsy only at high doses (ED50 2.5 umol/kg i.p.). In vitro, the compound was found to inhibit dopamine-D2 receptors very potently (Table 1). For the further characterization of the receptor binding properties eticlopride was radiolabelled using catalytic hydrogenation to high specific radioactivity and was used for in vitro and in vivo receptor binding studies. Open image in new window