Dopaminergic (4aR,10bS)-cis- and (4aS,10bS)-trans-octahydrobenzo[F]quinolines have similar pharmacophores.

The structures and absolute configurations of two N-phenethyl substituted cis- and trans-octahydrobenzo[f]quinolines were determined by X-ray crystallography. The absolute configurations of the enantiomers that have high affinity for dopaminergic receptors were found to be (4aR,10bS) and (4aS,10bS) for the (-)-cis- and (-)-trans-8,9-dihydroxy substituted compounds. This is consistent with previous results for a dopamine agonist pharmacophore. MM2-87 calculations for a cis isomer, which has two alternative chair conformations of the piperidine ring, indicated that the preferred conformer is the same as that observed in the crystal structure. Superposition of the more active cis and trans enantiomers showed that the three dimensional orientations of the phenyl ring and the ammonium group are similar in the two geometrical isomers. The cis isomer, however, has steric bulk out of the plane of the molecule and this appears to result in a loss of agonist efficacy. The addition of the N-phenethyl group to the 7-OH and 7,8-diOH cis compounds, however, appears to be sufficient to restore high affinity for dopaminergic receptors unlike previously synthesized cis compounds. These cis compounds, however, appear to be mixed agonist/antagonists or antagonists on functional assays of dopaminergic activity.

Synthesis, brain uptake, and pharmacological properties of a glyceryl lipid containing GABA and the GABA-T inhibitor gamma-vinyl-GABA.

1-O-Linolenoyl-2-O-(4-aminobutyryl)-3-O-(4-vinyl-4-aminobutyryl)glycerol (LGV) was synthesized as an example of a prodrug which readily penetrates the blood-brain barrier (brain penetration index 97% +/- 15%) and releases two active substances in the central nervous system (CNS): GABA (4-aminobutanoic acid) and the GABA transaminase inhibitor (GABA-T) of GABA breakdown. In vitro studies showed that the compound can inhibit GABA-T after hydrolysis by CNS esterases and that it enhanced GABAergic inhibition when applied to rat hippocampus slices. In vivo studies indicate that LGV depresses the spontaneous locomotor activity of mice. Its activity on a molar basis was some 300 times greater than that of gamma-vinyl-GABA.

Uptake in brain and neurophysiological activity of two lipid esters of gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Two lipid esters of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), 1-linolenoyl-2,3-bis(4-aminobutyryl)propane-1,2,3-triol and 1,2-dilinolenoyl-3-(4-aminobutyryl)propane-1,2,3-triol, were found to have brain uptake indices of greater than 30% using the single-pass carotid artery injection technique. Both compounds produced dose-dependent inhibition of the evoked population spike in slices of rat hippocampus maintained in vitro. This effect was blocked reversibly by picrotoxin. The magnitude of the inhibition produced by the lipid esters of GABA was comparable to that of similar doses of GABA, but for both compounds the duration of the effect was at least 10 times longer than that produced by GABA. These data are consistent with the idea that the lipid esters of GABA can effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier and act as prodrugs for the delivery of GABA to the central nervous system.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid esters. 3. Synthesis, brain uptake, and pharmacological properties of C-18 glyceryl lipid esters of GABA with varying degree of unsaturation.

A series of 14C-labeled and unlabeled di-gamma-aminobutyric acid esters of glyceryl lipids having zero to three double bonds (stearoyl, oleoyl, linoleoyl, and linolenoyl) were synthesized. Measurements of the octanol/water partition coefficients of the compounds showed an increase with decreasing number of double bonds (i.e., from linolenoyl to stearoyl). The brain-uptake index went up from 31.5 (linolenoyl) to 45.1 (stearoyl) and similarly the brain-penetration index went up from 15 (linolenoyl) to 28 (stearoyl). Intraperitoneal injections of these di-GABA lipid esters produced a substantial inhibition of the general motor activity in mice at a dose of 30 mg/kg; the most active molecules were those containing two and three double bonds, i.e., the linolenoyl and linolenoyl derivatives. This is in reverse order to that predicted by brain-uptake and lipid-solubility properties, suggesting that the structure of the fatty acid side chain may be an additional factor in influencing biological activity.

Inhibitory effect of cholesteryl gamma-aminobutyrate on evoked activity in rat hippocampal slices.

Cholesteryl gamma-aminobutyrate (C-G) readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and has properties that suggest that it may be a potential gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mimetic compound. The effect of this compound on the orthodromically-evoked discharge of hippocampal pyramidal cells was investigated using slices of rat hippocampus maintained in vitro. The compound produced dose-dependent inhibition of the discharge of pyramidal cells. The magnitude of the inhibitory effect was somewhat less than that produced by a similar dose of GABA, but the duration of the inhibition was prolonged by about 10-fold over that produced by GABA. The inhibition produced by cholesteryl gamma-aminobutyrate was blocked by the addition of picrotoxin to the incubation medium, and by replacement of chloride with isethionate. In addition, pretreatment of slices with the irreversible esterase inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, attenuated the effects of cholesteryl gamma-aminobutyrate, but not that of GABA. These results suggest that cholesteryl gamma-aminobutyrate has GABA-like actions in the CNS, and that its activity is largely dependent upon enzymatic release of GABA from the compound by esterases present in the tissue.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid esters. 2. Synthesis, brain uptake, and pharmacological properties of lipid esters of gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Two lipid esters of U-14C-labeled and unlabeled gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were synthesized to test the possibility that natural lipid analogues, which resemble normal components of lipid bilayer membranes, can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and transport exogenous GABA to the brain. The uptake of 1-linolenoyl-2,3-bis(4-aminobutyryl)propane-1,2,3-triol and 1,2-dilinolenoyl-3-(4-aminobutyryl)propane-1,2,3-triol into mouse brain relative to liver was found to be, respectively, 75- and 127-fold greater than that of free GABA. The results indicate that there is little or no blood-brain barrier for the GABA ester molecules at doses up to 0.36 mmol/kg. Both ester compounds, but neither free GABA nor the lipid components delivered systemically, demonstrated central nervous system depressant properties by inhibiting the general motor activity of mice. Brain tissue has esterase activity which can release GABA from these compounds. This suggests that these compounds function as "prodrugs" to release GABA in the CNS.

C(2)-Methylation abolishes DA1 dopamine agonist activity of 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (6,7-ADTN): steric intolerance by the receptor.

The synthesis of 2-amino-2-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene is reported. This compound did not produce vasodilation in the dog renal artery and was inactive as a DA1-type dopamine agonist. This is in contrast to the 2-nonmethylated homologue 6,7-ADTN, which is a potent DA1 agonist. High-field 1H NMR studies of the O,O-dimethyl ethers for both compounds as their free bases in chloroform-d revealed that the 2-methyl homologue probably exists as a rapidly equilibrating mixture of conformers; it seems likely that it can adopt the active conformation proposed to be required by the dopamine receptor. The lack of activity is therefore attributed to the steric effect of the 2-methyl group, consistent with explanations offered by others that the dopamine receptor cannot tolerate alkylation at the alpha side-chain carbon.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid esters. 1. Synthesis, brain uptake, and pharmacological studies of aliphatic and steroid esters of gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Labeled and unlabeled aliphatic and steroid esters of gamma-amino[U-14C]butyric acid (GABA) were synthesized and tested for their capacity to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and for evidence of central neuropharmacological activity in rodents. The uptake of the labeled 9,12,15- octadecatrienyl ( linolenyl ), 3-cholesteryl, 1-butyl, and the 9-fluoro-11 beta,17-dihydroxy-16 alpha-methyl-3,20- dioxopregna -1,4-dien-21-yl (dexamethasone) esters of GABA into mouse brain increased 2-, 25-, 74-, and 81-fold over GABA, respectively. The cholesteryl ester of GABA depressed the general motor activity of mice and rats in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the 1-butyl, linolenyl , and dexamethasone esters were inactive by this test. Studies of the rates of hydrolysis, GABA receptor binding capacity, and octanol/water partition coefficients indicated that pharmacological activity of the esters after entry into the central nervous system (CNS) was dependent on their capacity to release GABA by enzymatic hydrolysis and their lipid solubility.

Isomeric cyclopropyl ring-methylated homologues of trans-2-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)cyclopropylamine, an hallucinogen analogue.

The hallucinogen analogue trans-2-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)cyclopropylamine was modified by adding a 3-methyl group, either cis or trans with respect to the amino group. These two isomeric cyclopropyl ring-methylated compounds were then tested for activity in the mouse ear-scratch assay and for a contractile effect in the rat fundus preparation. Neither compound was found to possess appreciable activity when compared to the nonmethylated parent, in either assay.

Dopamine agonist properties of N-alkyl-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines.

A series of homologous N-alkyl-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines was synthesized and examined for a dopamine-like ability to dilate the renal artery. The N-methyl derivative was equipotent to the 3',4'-dihydroxy derivative of the antidepressant agent nomifensine, indicating that the 8-amino group of the latter is not essential for dopamine-like activity. The N-ethyl homologue was reduced in potency when compared to the N-methyl, and the N-n-propyl, surprisingly, was essentially devoid of activity. This was unexpected in view of the fact that in all series of dopamine-like agents reported to date, N-alkylation, when one of the alkyls was an n-propyl group, either allowed retention or enhancement of potency.