Saturable transport of the neurokinin-1 non-peptide antagonist LY303870 across the rat blood-brain barrier after intravenous administration.

LY303870 (LY) is a non-peptide neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist that has effects on the brain after peripheral administration. We determined whether LY given by intravenous (iv) injection can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Multiple-time regression analysis showed the unidirectional influx rate (Ki) from blood to brain for LY labeled with tritium to be 6.41+/-0.85 microl/g-min and influx was inhibited by unlabeled LY. HPLC and mass spectrometry showed LY was stable in blood and brain. LY reached a brain/serum ratio of 190+/-12 microl/g with about 0.07% of the injected dose entering each gram of brain. These results show that LY is transported across the BBB from serum into brain by a saturable system.

Expedited discovery of second generation NK-1 antagonists: identification of a nonbasic aryloxy substituent.

Solution-phase, parallel-synthesis techniques were used to optimize a series of nonbasic NK-1 antagonists, resulting in the identification of (R)-26, an orally bioavailable compound with subnanomolar potency.

Validation of a noninvasive, real-time imaging technology using bioluminescent Escherichia coli in the neutropenic mouse thigh model of infection.

A noninvasive, real-time detection technology was validated for qualitative and quantitative antimicrobial treatment applications. The lux gene cluster of Photorhabdus luminescens was introduced into an Escherichia coli clinical isolate, EC14, on a multicopy plasmid. This bioluminescent reporter bacterium was used to study antimicrobial effects in vitro and in vivo, using the neutropenic-mouse thigh model of infection. Bioluminescence was monitored and measured in vitro and in vivo with an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera system, and these results were compared to viable-cell determinations made using conventional plate counting methods. Statistical analysis demonstrated that in the presence or absence of antimicrobial agents (ceftazidime, tetracycline, or ciprofloxacin), a strong correlation existed between bioluminescence levels and viable cell counts in vitro and in vivo. Evaluation of antimicrobial agents in vivo could be reliably performed with either method, as each was a sound indicator of therapeutic success. Dose-dependent responses could also be detected in the neutropenic-mouse thigh model by using either bioluminescence or viable-cell counts as a marker. In addition, the ICCD technology was examined for the benefits of repeatedly monitoring the same animal during treatment studies. The ability to repeatedly measure the same animals reduced variability within the treatment experiments and allowed equal or greater confidence in determining treatment efficacy. This technology could reduce the number of animals used during such studies and has applications for the evaluation of test compounds during drug discovery.

Antifungal activity of LY303366, a novel echinocandin B, in experimental disseminated candidiasis in rabbits.

The safety and antifungal activity of LY303366 (LY), a new broad-spectrum semisynthetic echinocandin, were studied against disseminated candidiasis in persistently neutropenic rabbits. In vitro time-kill assays demonstrated that LY has concentration-dependent fungicidal activity. The pharmacokinetics of LY in the plasma of nonneutropenic rabbits suggested a linear relationship between dose and area under the curve (AUC). The times spent above the MIC during the experimental dosing interval of 24 h were 4 h for LY at 0.1 mg/kg of body weight/day (LY0.1), 8 h for LY at 0.25 mg/kg/day (LY0.25), 12 h for LY at 0.5 mg/kg/day (LY0.5), and 20 h for LY at 1 mg/kg/day (LY1). Antifungal therapy was administered to infected rabbits for 10 days starting 24 h after the intravenous (i.v.) inoculation of 10(3) Candida albicans blastoconidia. Study groups consisted of untreated controls (UCs) and animals treated with amphotericin B (AmB; 1 mg/kg/day i.v.), fluconazole (FLU; 10 mg/kg/day i.v.), and LY0.1, LY0.25, LY0.5, or LY1 i.v. Rabbits treated with LY0.5, LY1, AmB, and FLU had similarly significant clearance of C. albicans from the liver, spleen, kidney, lung, vena cava, and brain in comparison to that for UCs. There was a dose-dependent clearance of C. albicans from tissues in response to LY. Among rabbits treated with LY0.1 there was a significant reduction of C. albicans only in the spleen. In animals treated with LY0.25 there was a significant reduction in all tissues but the brain. By comparison, LY0.5 and LY1 cleared all tissues, including the brain, of C. albicans. These in vivo findings were consistent with the results of in vitro time-kill assays. A dose-dependent effect of altered cell wall morphology was observed among UCs and animals treated with LY0.1, and LY0.25, with a progressive transition from hyphal structure to disrupted yeast forms. Serum creatinine levels were higher and serum potassium levels were lower in AmB-treated rabbits than in UCs and LY- and FLU-treated rabbits. LY0.5 and LY1 were well tolerated, displayed predictable pharmacokinetics in plasma, and had activities comparable to those of AmB and FLU in the treatment of disseminated candidiasis in persistently neutropenic rabbits.

Antifungal efficacy, safety, and single-dose pharmacokinetics of LY303366, a novel echinocandin B, in experimental pulmonary aspergillosis in persistently neutropenic rabbits.

LY303366 is a novel semisynthetic derivative of echinocandin B and a potent inhibitor of fungal (1,3)-beta-D-glucan synthase. The antifungal efficacy and safety of LY303366 were investigated in treatment and prophylaxis of primary pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus in persistently neutropenic rabbits. Treatment study groups were either not treated (controls) or treated with amphotericin B (AmB) at 1 mg/kg of body weight per day or with LY303366 at 1, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg/day. In rabbits treated with LY303366, there was a significant improvement in survival and a reduction in organism-mediated pulmonary injury measured by the number of infarcts, total lung weight, and ultrafast computerized tomography scan pulmonary lesion score. Rabbits receiving prophylactic LY303366 also demonstrated significant improvement in survival and reduction in organism-mediated pulmonary injury. AmB and LY303366 had comparable therapeutic efficacies by all parameters with the exception of reduction in tissue burden of A. fumigatus, where AmB was superior to LY303366. LY303366 demonstrated a dose-dependent effect on hyphal injury with progressive truncation, swelling, and vacuolization. LY303366 administered in single doses of 1, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg demonstrated dose-proportional increases in the maximum concentration of drug in plasma and the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 72 h with no changes in plasma drug clearance. The 1-mg/kg dosage maintained plasma drug levels above the MIC for 18 h, and dosages of >/=5 mg/kg maintained plasma drug levels above the MIC for the entire 24-h dosing interval. There was no significant elevation of the concentrations of hepatic transaminases or creatinine in serum in LY303366-treated rabbits. In summary, LY303366 improved survival and decreased pulmonary injury with no apparent toxicity in the treatment and prevention of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in persistently neutropenic rabbits.

Pharmacokinetics and dialyzability of sulindac and metabolites in patients with end-stage renal failure.

Sulindac was administered as a single 300-mg oral dose to six patients with end-stage renal failure and six normal subjects. Plasma concentrations of sulindac and its sulfide and sulfone metabolites were examined over a 48-hour period. As determined by ultrafiltration methods at 37 degrees C, the percentage free of sulindac and sulindac sulfide in plasma was greater, respectively, in the patients with renal failure (10.50 +/- 2.42 and 9.96 +/- 1.21) than in the normal subjects (6.78 +/- 0.45 and 6.01 +/- 0.37). Free sulindac plasma concentrations were not different between the two groups. However, sulindac sulfide, total and free, plasma concentrations were substantially decreased in the group with renal failure. Total area under the curve (AUC) of the sulfide metabolite was 18% in the normal subjects and the free AUC was 29%. In patients with renal failure, the apparent half-lives of sulindac (1.98 +/- 0.76 hours) and sulindac sulfide (15.6 +/- 5.8 hours) were not different from those of normal subjects. Sulindac sulfone half-life was highly variable and longer in the patient group. Studies of dialysis clearance showed that sulindac and its metabolites are poorly dialyzed. A 4-hour dialysis period increased the plasma binding of both sulindac and sulindac sulfide in the patient group. Based on the decreased plasma concentration of the active sulindac sulfide metabolite in the patient group, dosage adjustments may be required in patients with end-stage renal failure.

Comparative anticonvulsant activity of 4-chlorobenzenesulfonamide and prototype antiepileptic drugs in rodents.

The anticonvulsant and toxic properties of 4-chlorobenzenesulfonamide (ADD 55051) were compared with phenytoin (PHT), phenobarbital (PB), ethosuximide (ESM), and valproate (VPA). These compounds were evaluated in mice and rats using well-standardized anti-convulsant test procedures. The results indicate that ADD 55051 is a very effective anticonvulsant in the maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model in mice after either intraperitoneal (i.p.) or oral administration and in rats after oral administration. In mice treated i.p. or orally, ADD 55051 was also effective in preventing seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). The toxicity of ADD 55051 after oral administration was quite low, yielding high TD50 values in both mice and rats and producing a very high protective index (PI = TD50/ED50) in both species as compared with the prototype antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).

Anticonvulsant activity of some 4-methoxy- and 4-chlorobenzanilides.

A series of mono-, di-, and trimethylated derivatives of 4-chloro- and 4-methoxybenzanilide was synthesized and evaluated for anticonvulsant activity. This series was prepared in the course of studies designed to examine the relationship between anticonvulsant effects and benzamide structure. The compounds were tested in mice against seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (scMet), as well as with the rotorod assay for neurologic deficit. In mice dosed intraperitoneally, 4-methoxy-2, 6-dimethylbenzanilide (4) showed a median anticonvulsant potency (ED50) of 18.58 mg/kg in the MES test and a median toxicity (TD50) of 133.72 mg/kg in the rotorod toxicity assay, yielding a protective index (PI = TD50/ED50) of 7.2. In mice dosed orally with 4, the anti-MES ED50 was 27.40 mg/kg and the TD50 dose was determined to be 342.58 mg/kg, resulting in a protective index of 12.5.

Liquid chromatographic optimization of reaction conditions for the synthesis of 2,2-dimethyl-N-benzylmalonamide, a new anticonvulsant.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RP/LC) procedures are used to optimize the reaction conditions for the large scale preparation of 2,2-dimethyl-N-benzylmalonamide, 1. In acute studies using mice and rats, compound 1 is a very effective anticonvulsant agent. Large quantities of 1 (ca. 300 g) are needed for detailed studies of its chronic effects. LC monitoring of the synthesis of intermediate products and 1 result in the optimum use of reagents, increased product yields, and decreased reaction times.

Liquid chromatographic determination of sulindac and metabolites in serum.

An improved liquid chromatographic procedure is described for the quantitative determination of sulindac, sulindac sulfone, and sulindac sulfide from serum. The procedure makes use of acetonitrile extraction of the compounds of interest from acidified serum samples. Under these conditions extraction efficiencies in the 85 percent range are obtained for each of the compounds. The liquid chromatographic separation of the compounds of interest and the internal standard (indomethacin) is accomplished in an isocratic elution procedure using a nitrile (CN) stationary phase. The HPLC separation procedure is completed in less than 10 minutes, giving excellent resolution and peak shape.