Schwe Fang Pong

Characterization of the anticonvulsant properties of F-721

The anticonvulsant properties of F-721 (3-diethylamino-2,2-dimethylpropyl-5-[p-trifluoromethylphenyl]-2-f uroate hydrochloride) were investigated in a battery of in vivo and in vitro anticonvulsant model systems. After intraperitoneal (ip) administration in mice, F-721 was effective in nontoxic doses against maximal electroshock (MES), subcutaneous picrotoxin clonic, intracerebroventricular (icv) N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) tonic, icv NMDA clonic and icv quisqualic acid tonic seizures (ED50s: 11.1, 28.4, 1.76, 3.4, and 4.4 mg/kg, respectively). F-721 exhibited only partial activity against clonic seizures induced in the subcutaneous Metrazol and subcutaneous bicuculline test in mice and was inactive in this species against tonic seizures induced in the subcutaneous strychnine test. F-721 was effective against MES seizures following oral administration to mice (ED50: 31.3 mg/kg) and only partially effective by this route against clonic seizures induced by subcutaneous Metrazol. In rats, F-721 was a potent anticonvulsant in the maximal electroshock model following oral administration (ED50: 9.9 mg/kg). F-721 was also effective against corneal-kindled and amygdaloid-kindled seizures in rats. F-721 suppressed stage 5 seizures in corneal-kindled rats with an ED50 of 15 mg/kg, ip. In addition, it also decreased the afterdischarge duration and behavioral seizure stage in amygdaloid-kindled rats at doses that did not cause sedation or ataxia. At 40 mg/kg, F-721 reduced afterdischarge duration by 83.2% and reduced the seizure severity score to 1.7. The ED50 for 50% reduction of afterdischarge duration was 16.3 mg/kg, ip. In cultured mouse spinal cord neurons, F-721 suppressed sustained repetitive firing in response to a depolarizing current with a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 1.9 microM. F-721 had no effect on adenosine uptake, gamma-aminobutyric acid or NMDA receptor binding. Comparative data from previous studies with clinically established antiepileptic agents reveal that F-721s profile of activity most closely resembles that of phenytoin and carbamazepine. However, F-721 was notably more efficacious in suppressing amygdaloid-kindled seizures in rats and was a more potent antagonist of icv NMDA clonic seizures. Our studies indicate that F-721 is a potent, orally active anticonvulsant with a favorable margin of safety. The profile of anticonvulsant activity of F-721 suggests potential utility in the management of generalized tonic-clonic, simple and complex partial seizures.

Interaction of azimilide with neurohumoral and channel receptors

Binding of the class III antiarrhythmic agent azimilide to brain, heart, and other organ receptors was assessed by standard radioligand binding techniques. In a survey of 60 receptors, azimilide at 10 microM inhibited binding by more than 50% at serotonin uptake (K(i): 0.6 microM), muscarinic (K(i): 0.9 to -3.0 microM), Na(+) channel site 2 (K(i): 4.3 microM), and central sigma (K(i): 6.2 microM) sites. Lesser (20-40%) inhibition was seen at adrenergic, histamine, serotonin, purinergic, angiotensin II, dopamine uptake, and norepinephrine sites and at a voltage-sensitive K(+) channel. In rat ventricle, azimilide inhibited binding to alpha(1)- and beta-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors (K(i): < 5 microM) and to the L-type Ca(2+) channel (K(i): 37.3 microM). In rat brain, azimilide blocked ligand binding to these same receptors and to a serotonin receptor, and the breadth and potency of its interaction pattern differentiated it from ten other class III antiarrhythmics. Azimilide displayed agonist and antagonist action at five muscarinic receptor subtypes in transfected NIH 3T3 cells producing receptor-sensitive mitogenesis and beta-galactosidase activity. Agonist action predominated at M(2) and M(4) subtypes, and antagonist action predominated at M(1), M(3), and M(5) subtypes. The azimilide concentration for 50% maximum stimulation (EC(50)) in M(2)-expressing cells was 1.97 microM (vs 0.14 microM for carbachol). Azimilides receptor interactions occur at concentrations from one to forty times those required to block cardiac delayed-rectifier channels but could contribute to the efficacy and safety of the drug.

Gastric toxicity and prostaglandin content in rats dosed with two chemically similar, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

Abstract Two chemically similar nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, orpanoxin and F-1067, had almost identical potencies and efficacies as anti-inflammatory (rat paw edema) and analgesic (mouse writhing) agents, but differed markedly in gastrotoxicity. Orpanoxin alone aggravated stomach lesions in rats subjected to pylorus ligation and failed to protect stomachs of rats challenged with indomethacin. The compounds did not differ in their in vitro enzyme inhibition effects, both failing to inhibit 5- and 15-lipoxygenase and both inhibiting prostaglandin synthetase. Extraction of prostagiandins from the gastric mucosa of pylorus-ligated rats revealed, however, that the safer F-1067 depleted prostaglandin 6-keto-F1α less and increased prostaglandin E2 much more than did orpanoxin. A possible causality is suggested.

Correlation between anti-hypertensive activity in rats and plasma angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition in mice following oral administration of ACE inhibitors

Thirty-four ACE inhibitors were evaluated to determine the concentration giving 50% inhibition of purified rabbit lung ACE (IC50 microM) using benzyloxycarboxyl-p-NO2-Phe-His-Leu as substrate, to determine the oral dose causing a lowering in blood pressure of 30 mm Hg (ED30 mumol/kg) in acute aortic coarctate (AAC) rats, and to determine inhibition of plasma ACE (PACE) activity in mice after oral dosing. Mouse PACE activity was determined with 14C-Hip-His-Leu as substrate one hour after oral dosing of 3 animals/group with 5 or 50 mumol ACE inhibitor per kg. Data from mice were expressed as percent of control group PACE activity. Least squares regression analysis showed the IC50 data to be poorly correlated with either rat data or mouse PACE data at 50 mumol/kg p.o. However, correlation was significant between log rat ED30 and mouse PACE at 5 (p less than 0.001, r = 0.570) and 50 (p less than 0.025, r = 0.387) mumol/kg p.o. Thus, the simple mouse plasma ACE determination after a dose of 5 mumol/kg is a convenient supplement to the AAC rat model for showing oral activity of ACE inhibitors.

5-PHENYL-2-FURAMIDINES: A NEW CHEMICAL CLASS OF POTENTIAL ANTIDEPRESSANTS

A series of 5-phenyl-2-furamidines has been synthesized and evaluated for antidepressant activities. Substitution in the phenyl ring with a nitro (4) or an amino (12) group in the ortho-position resulted in an increase in antidepressant activity. Both 4 and 12 antagonized tetrabenazine-induced ptosis in rodents and inhibited norepinephrine (noradrenaline) uptake into crude synaptosomes of whole mouse brain at doses or concentrations comparable to those of the tricyclic antidepressants. However, these compounds did not possess the anticholinergic and antihistaminic activities common to tricyclic antidepressants. In addition, they lacked monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity. The 5-phenyl-2-furamidines represent a new chemical class of antidepressants and may be useful for depressive patients who cannot tolerate the compromising side effects of the tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.