Shifting brain inhibitory balance and connectivity of the prefrontal cortex of adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Currently, there are no effective pharmacologic treatments for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is, nevertheless, potential for progress. For example, recent evidence suggests that the excitatory (E) glutamate and inhibitory (I) GABA systems may be altered in ASD. However, no prior studies of ASD have examined the 'responsivity' of the E-I system to pharmacologic challenge; or whether E-I modulation alters abnormalities in functional connectivity of brain regions implicated in the disorder. Therefore, we used magnetic resonance spectroscopy ([1H]MRS) to measure prefrontal E-I flux in response to the glutamate and GABA acting drug riluzole in adult men with and without ASD. We compared the change in prefrontal 'Inhibitory Index'-the GABA fraction within the pool of glutamate plus GABA metabolites-post riluzole challenge; and the impact of riluzole on differences in resting-state functional connectivity. Despite no baseline differences in E-I balance, there was a significant group difference in response to pharmacologic challenge. Riluzole increased the prefrontal cortex inhibitory index in ASD but decreased it in controls. There was also a significant group difference in prefrontal functional connectivity at baseline, which was abolished by riluzole within the ASD group. Our results also show, for we believe the first time in ASD, that E-I flux can be 'shifted' with a pharmacologic challenge, but that responsivity is significantly different from controls. Further, our initial evidence suggests that abnormalities in functional connectivity can be 'normalised' by targeting E-I, even in adults.

The role of 5-HT2C receptors in touchscreen visual reversal learning in the rat: a cross-site study.

RATIONALE: Reversal learning requires associative learning and executive functioning to suppress non-adaptive responding. Reversal-learning deficits are observed in e.g. schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder and implicate neural circuitry including the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Serotonergic function has been strongly linked to visual reversal learning in humans and experimental animals but less is known about which receptor subtypes are involved. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to test the effects of systemic and intra-OFC 5-HT2C-receptor antagonism on visual reversal learning in rats and assess the psychological mechanisms underlying these effects within novel touchscreen paradigms. METHODS: In experiments 1-2, we used a novel 3-stimulus task to investigate the effects of 5-HT2C-receptor antagonism through SB 242084 (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg i.p.) cross-site. Experiment 3 assessed the effects of SB 242084 in 2-choice reversal learning. In experiment 4, we validated a novel touchscreen serial visual reversal task suitable for neuropharmacological microinfusions by baclofen-/muscimol-induced OFC inactivation. In experiment 5, we tested the effect of intra-OFC SB 242084 (1.0 or 3.0 µg/side) on performance in this task. RESULTS: In experiments 1-3, SB 242084 reduced early errors but increased late errors to criterion. In experiment 5, intra-OFC SB 242084 reduced early errors without increasing late errors in a reversal paradigm validated as OFC dependent (experiment 4). CONCLUSION: Intra-OFC 5-HT2C-receptor antagonism decreases perseveration in novel touchscreen reversal-learning paradigms for the rat. Systemic 5-HT2C-receptor antagonism additionally impairs late learning-a robust effect observed cross-site and potentially linked to impulsivity. These conclusions are discussed in terms of neural mechanisms underlying reversal learning and their relevance to psychiatric disorders.

Innovative solutions to novel drug development in mental health.

There are many new advances in neuroscience and mental health which should lead to a greater understanding of the neurobiological dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders and new developments for early, effective treatments. To do this, a biomarker approach combining genetic, neuroimaging, cognitive and other biological measures is needed. The aim of this article is to highlight novel approaches for pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment development. This article suggests approaches that can be taken in the future including novel mechanisms with preliminary clinical validation to provide a toolbox for mechanistic studies and also examples of translation and back-translation. The review also emphasizes the need for clinician-scientists to be trained in a novel way in order to equip them with the conceptual and experimental techniques required, and emphasizes the need for private-public partnership and pre-competitive knowledge exchange. This should lead the way for important new holistic treatment developments to improve cognition, functional outcome and well-being of people with neuropsychiatric disorders.

Differential effects of NMDA antagonists on high frequency and gamma EEG oscillations in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia.

Neuroanatomical, electrophysiological and behavioural abnormalities following timed prenatal methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) treatment in rats model changes observed in schizophrenia. In particular, MAM treatment on gestational day 17 (E17) preferentially disrupts limbic-cortical circuits, and is a promising animal model of schizophrenia. The hypersensitivity of this model to the NMDA receptor antagonist-induced hyperactivity has been proposed to mimic the increase in sensitivity observed in schizophrenia patients following PCP and Ketamine administration. However, how this increase in sensitivity in both patients and animals translates to differences in EEG oscillatory activity is unknown. In this study we have shown that MAM-E17 treated animals have an increased response to the hyperlocomotor and wake promoting effects of Ketamine, PCP, and MK801 but not to the competitive antagonist SDZ 220,581. These behavioural changes were accompanied by altered EEG responses to the NMDAR antagonists, most evident in the gamma and high frequency (HFO) ranges; altered sensitivity of these neuronal network oscillations in MAM-exposed rats is regionally selective, and reflects altered interneuronal function in this neurodevelopmental model.

The pharmacological sensitivity of a touchscreen-based visual discrimination task in the rat using simple and perceptually challenging stimuli.

RATIONALE: Cognitive testing with touchscreen-equipped operant boxes ('touchscreens') is becoming increasingly popular. Tasks, such as paired associate learning or reversal learning of visual stimuli, have the discrimination of visual stimuli as a fundamental component. However, the effect of drugs commonly used in the study of cognitive mechanisms has yet to be described in a visual discrimination. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to profile a range of psychoactive agents (glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and cholinergic agonists and antagonists) known to be important in cognitive processing on visual discrimination performance using a touch sensitive computer monitor. METHODS: Male Lister Hooded rats were trained to a stable level of performance in a simple visual discrimination. In Experiment 1, the effect of MK-801, phencyclidine, memantine, dextroamphetamine sulphate (D-amphetamine) and scopolamine was assessed. In Experiment 2, the stimuli were blended together resulting in a perceptually more demanding discrimination and a reduction in accuracy. The rats used in Experiment 1 were then retested with these 'morphed' stimuli under the influence of the above compounds. RESULTS: MK-801, PCP, and D-amphetamine induced selective deficits in accuracy in both versions of the task. In contrast, scopolamine and memantine produced non-selective deficits in accuracy. Morphing the stimuli reduced accuracy, but did not alter the observed behavioural profile after compound administration. CONCLUSION: These data improve our understanding of the basic neuropharmacology of a visual discrimination in cognitive tests employing touchscreens and will aid in the interpretation of pharmacological studies with more cognitively demanding methodologies.

JP-1302: a new tool to shed light on the roles of alpha2C-adrenoceptors in brain.

The discovery of JP-1302 as a selective, high affinity antagonist at the alpha2C-adrenoceptor will enable researchers to probe the functional role and address the therapeutic utility of this potentially highly important adrenoceptor subtype.

Substitution for PCP, disruption of prepulse inhibition and hyperactivity induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists: preferential involvement of the NR2B rather than NR2A subunit.

The non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist phencyclidine (PCP) is known to produce a discriminative stimulus in rats. The first aim of the present study was to investigate which NMDA receptor subtype(s) is involved in this effect of PCP. Rats were trained to discriminate PCP (2 mg/kg; i.p.) from saline in a two lever operant task. The NMDA channel blocker, (+)MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg; i.p.) and the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist SDZ 220-581 (3 mg/kg; i.p.) produced 76% of PCP-lever selection (ED50=0.045 and 2 mg/kg, respectively), whereas their respective inactive enantiomers (-)MK-801 (0.025-0.1 mg/kg) and SDZ 221-653 (2-5 mg/kg) induced less than 30% of PCP-appropriate responding. Another competitive NMDA antagonist, SDZ EAB-515 (30 mg/kg; i.p.), induced 63% of PCP-lever responding (ED50=23.48 mg/kg). The selective antagonist of NMDA receptors containing the NR1A/NR2B-subunits Ro 25-6981 (20 mg/kg; i.p.) resulted in a complete substitution (more than 80% of PCP-lever selection) for PCP (ED50=8.59 mg/kg). In contrast, the NR1A/NR2A NMDA receptor-preferring antagonist NVP-AAM077 (2-10 mg/kg; i.p.) failed to produce PCP-like discriminative stimuli. At high doses SDZ 220-581 (ED50=2.44), NVP-AAM077 (ED50=8.33) and SDZ EAB-515 (ED50=25.81) decreased the performance of the rats in this operant task. The ability of these NMDA receptor antagonists to disrupt the prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response and to alter locomotor activity was also studied. PCP (0.5-2 mg/kg; s.c.), SDZ 220-581 (0.5-5 mg/kg; s.c.), SDZ EAB-515 (1-30 mg/kg; i.p.) and Ro 25-6981 (5-20 mg/kg; i.p.) disrupted PPI and at high doses produced hyperlocomotion. In contrast, NVP-AAM077 (5-20 mg/kg; i.p.) did not disrupt PPI and reduced locomotor activity. In conclusion, it appears that the NMDA receptor containing the NR2B, rather than the NR2A subunit, may play a major role in the PCP-like discriminative stimulus. In addition, sensory motor gating disturbances associated with NMDA antagonists do not seem to result from a blockade of NR1/NR2A-containing NMDA receptors.

Evidence for regulation of body temperature in rats by dopamine D2 receptor and possible influence of D1 but not D3 and D4 receptors.

The dopamine D(3) receptor agonist PD 128907 decreased body temperature in the rat. The selective dopamine D(3) and D(4) receptor antagonists, A-437203 and L-745,870, respectively, did not prevent this effect. In contrast, PD 128907-induced hypothermia was antagonized by SCH 23390, a selective D(1) receptor antagonist, and by L-741,626, a selective D(2) receptor antagonist. Moreover, the selective D(2) receptor agonist trihydroxy-N-n-propylnoraporphine (TNPA) elicited a robust hypothermia which was prevented by pretreatment with L-741,626 but not by A-437203. In agreement with previous data obtained in D(3) knock-out mice, present results suggest that D(2) rather than D(3) receptors mediate dopamine receptor agonist-induced hypothermia in rats. In addition, it appears that both D(1) and D(2) receptors may be involved in a cooperative manner.

Belaperidone (Knoll AG).

Knoll is developing belaperidone, an antipsychotic agent, as a potential new treatment for schizophrenia. Phase II trials have commenced in Germany [200089,333710]. The compound is regarded as an atypical antipsychotic, similar in profile to clozapine, with potential to help patients whose illness has become difficult or impossible to treat. In rats, cumulative doses of belaperidone (0.128 to 32.768 mg/kg) reversed inhibition of the firing rate in the substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons induced by iv quinpirole. The ED50 value for the inhibition was 1.66 mg/kg, which is twice as potent as clozapine and 40-fold less potent than haloperidol. The drug did not produce catalepsy [346021]. In addition to possessing high affinity for 5-HT2 receptors (Ki = 3.3 nM), belaperidone selectively antagonizes the dopamine D4 (Ki = 3.1 nM) receptor, in preference to the D2 (Ki = 105 nM) subtype [247874]. It also has very low muscarinic affinity (Ki > 200 nM) [289024], [333710].

Receptor density as a factor governing the efficacy of the dopamine D4 receptor ligands, L-745,870 and U-101958 at human recombinant D4.4 receptors expressed in CHO cells.

1. The relationships between the density of dopamine D4.4 receptors and the agonist efficacies of L-745,870 (3-(4-[4-chlorophhenyl]piperazin-1-yl)-methyl-1H-pyrrolo [2, 3-b]pyridine) and U-101958 ((1-benzyl-piperidin-4-yl)-(3-isopropoxy-pyridin-2-yl)-methyl-a min e) were investigated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, after treatment with the gene expression enhancer, sodium butyrate. 2. In CHO cells expressing D4.4 receptors (CHO/D4 cells), dopamine inhibited forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation (Emax 56+/-1% inhibition, pEC50 7.4+/-0.1, n=10). U-101958 behaved as a partial agonist (39+/-7% the efficacy of dopamine, pEC50 8.1+/-0.3, n=4), whereas L-745,870 had no detectable agonist effect. 3. Receptor density, as estimated by [3H]-spiperone saturation binding was 240+/-30 fmol mg-1 protein (n=8) in CHO/D4 cell homogenates. It reached 560+/-150 (n=6), 1000+/-190 (n=4) and 840+/-120 (n=4) fmol mg-1 protein after treatment with sodium butyrate (5 mM) for 6, 18 and 48 h, respectively. 4. The increase in receptor density was associated with a gradual enhancement of the agonist effects (increased Emax and pEC50 values) of dopamine. The efficacy of U-101958 (relative to dopamine) doubled and L-745,870 was turned into a partial agonist (efficacy 49% relative to dopamine, pEC50 8. 6+/-0.2, n=6, after 48 h treatment with sodium butyrate). These agonist effects of U-101958 and L-745,870 could be antagonized by spiperone (0.1 microM) but not by raclopride (10 microM). 5. The results show that U-101958 and L-745,870 are partial agonists at human dopamine D4.4 receptors expressed in CHO cells. Their efficacy is governed by receptor density. Agonist effects of these two compounds in vivo cannot be excluded under circumstances of increased receptor levels.

Rat strain differences in the ability to disrupt sensorimotor gating are limited to the dopaminergic system, specific to prepulse inhibition, and unrelated to changes in startle amplitude or nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor sensitivity.

Previous studies indicate that a variety of pharmacological agents interfere with the prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle (PPI) response including phencyclidine (PCP), 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), amphetamine, and apomorphine. Strain differences have been observed in the ability of apomorphine to disrupt PPI, although the degree to which these strain differences occur after administration of nondopaminergic drugs or the degree to which differences can be observed in other models of dopamine (DA) receptor activation has not been elucidated. The present study tested the effects of apomorphine, amphetamine, 8-OH-DPAT, and PCP on PPI in the Sprague Dawley and Wistar rat strains. Because apomorphine disrupts PPI via activation of DA receptors in the nucleus accumbens, apomorphine-induced hyperlocomotion, also a behavioral model of nucleus accumbens DA receptor activation, was measured in both rat strains. Administration of PCP or 8-OH-DPAT attenuated PPI in both strains, whereas apomorphine and amphetamine only attenuated PPI in Wistar rats. The ability of apomorphine to increase motor activity in the absence of a startle-eliciting stimulus was similar in the two strains, as was apomorphine-induced hyperlocomotion. A time course analysis of the effects of apomorphine on startle response in Sprague Dawley rats found that changes in the magnitude of PPI followed changes in basic startle amplitude. Similarly, no apomorphine-induced attenuation of PPI was observed in Sprague Dawley rats after 6-OHDA-induced DA receptor supersensitivity in the nucleus accumbens. These data suggest a dissociation between the effects of DA receptor agonists in PPI and other behavioral models of DA receptor activation.

Disruption of prepulse inhibition and increases in locomotor activity by competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists in rats.

Noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists such as phencyclidine are psychotomimetics and disrupt prepulse inhibition (PPI), a measure of sensorimotor gating that is deficient in schizophrenia. Systemically administered competitive NMDA receptor antagonists do not disrupt PPI in rats, leading to speculation that these compounds might have use as neuroprotective agents without the risk of psychotomimetic side effects. The effects on sensorimotor gating and locomotor activity of competitive NMDA receptor antagonists that either penetrate (SDZ 220-581 and SDZ EAB-515) or poorly penetrate [SDZ EAA-494 (D-CPPene)] the blood-brain barrier were compared. Rats were treated with either SDZ 220-581 (0, 2.5, or 5.0 mg/kg) or SDZ EAB-515 (0, 3.0, 10.0, or 30.0 mg/kg) and tested for PPI and locomotor activity. Different rats were tested for PPI after either systemic (0, 0.5, 1.0, or 5.0 mg/kg) or intra-amygdala (0 or 1.0 microg/microl) administration of D-CPPene. Finally, rats were pretreated with clozapine (0 or 5.0 mg/kg) or haloperidol (0 or 0.1 mg/kg), together with SDZ 220-581 (0 or 2.5 mg/kg), and tested. SDZ 220-581 and SDZ EAB-515 decreased PPI without affecting startle magnitude. Reduced PPI was noted after central but not systemic administration of D-CPPene. The gating deficits produced by SDZ 220-581 were blocked by clozapine or haloperidol. Movement pattern analysis indicated that locomotor activity was increased by SDZ 220-581 and SDZ EAB-515 in a phencyclidine-like manner. These results indicate that competitive NMDA receptor antagonists, if they gain sufficient access to the brain, produce a behavioral profile that resembles that of the psychotomimetic noncompetitive antagonists.

The role of alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonism in the anti-cataleptic properties of the atypical neuroleptic agent, clozapine, in the rat.

1. The mechanism underlying the anticataleptic properties of the atypical neuroleptic agent, clozapine, has been investigated in the rat. 2.The close structural analogues of clozapine, loxapine (0.1 mg kg(-1) s.c.) and iso-clozapine (1 and 3 mg kg(-1) s.c.) induced catalepsy in rats. In contrast, clozapine and the regio-isomer of loxapine, iso-loxapine (up to 10 mg kg(-1) s.c.) did not produce catalepsy, but at a dose of 1 mg kg(-1) significantly inhibited catalepsy induced by loxapine (0.3 mg kg(-1) s.c.). 3. Radioligand binding assays showed that cataleptogenic potential was most clearly predicted by the D2/5-HT1A, D2/5-HT1B/1D and D2/alpha2-receptor affinity (KD) ratios: i.e. 30-100-fold higher ratios were calculated for loxapine and iso-clozapine, whereas the ratios were less than 1 for clozapine and iso-loxapine. The ratios of affinities for D2 to 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C or D1 did not reflect the grouping of cataleptic and non-cataleptic compounds. 4. Co-treatment with the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists, yohimbine (1-10 mg kg(-1) s.c.), RX 821002 (1-10 mg kg(-1) s.c.) and MK-912 (0.3 and 1 mg kg(-1) s.c.) dose-dependently inhibited the cataleptic response to loxapine (0.3 mg kg(-1)). Yohimbine (1-10 mg kg(-1) s.c.) also dose-dependently inhibited the cateleptic response to haloperidol (0.3 mg kg(-1) s.c.). The alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists had no effect per se. 5. Neither yohimbine (10 mg kg(-1)) nor RX821002 (3 mg kg(-1)) altered the cataleptic response to the D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390 (1 mg kg(-1) s.c.), while, like clozapine, both compounds abolished the response to the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, MDL 100,151 (3 mg kg(-1) s.c.). 6. The present data strongly implicate alpha2-adrenoceptor blockade in the anticataleptic properties of clozapine and suggest that its lack of extrapyramidal side effects in the clinic may also be a consequence of this property.

The agonist activities of the putative antipsychotic agents, L-745,870 and U-101958 in HEK293 cells expressing the human dopamine D4.4 receptor.

1. Dopamine D4 receptor antagonists are being developed by several pharmaceutical companies as putative novel antipsychotics, possibly with low propensity to side-effects. Two such compounds, L-745,870 and U-101958 have been recently introduced. 2. The radioligand binding and functional activities of L-745,870 and U-101958 were investigated in human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells expressing the human recombinant dopamine D4.4 receptor (HEK293/D4 cells). [3H]-spiperone binding experiments were performed and inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was used as the functional response. 3. [3H]-spiperone was found to label a homogeneous and saturable population of specific binding sites in HEK293/D4 cell homogenates (Bmax 505+/-90 fmol mg(-1) protein, pK(D) 9.5+/-0.1, n=3). Inhibition of specific [3H]-spiperone binding was observed with spiperone (pKi 9.6+/-0.1, n=3), clozapine (pKi 7.4+/-0.1, n=4), L-745,870 (pKi 8.5+/-0.1, n=3) and U-101958 (pKi 8.9+/-0.1, n=3). By contrast, raclopride was very weak (pKi < 5, n=3). 4. Dopamine inhibited forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in HEK293/D4 cells in a concentration-dependent fashion (Emax 71+/-2% inhibition of forskolin-stimulated levels, pEC50 8.7+/-0.1, n=10). This effect was mimicked by the dopamine D2-like receptor agonists, quinpirole and 7-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT). 5. L-745,870 and U-101958 also inhibited forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in HEK293/D4 cells in a concentration-dependent way. L-745,870 was less efficacious than dopamine (71% the efficacy of dopamine), whereas U-101958 behaved as a full agonist compared to dopamine. Potencies (pEC50) values of L-745,870 and U-101958 were 9.0+/-0.2 (n=4) and 8.7+/-0.3 (n=3), consistent with pKi values determined in radioligand binding studies. 6. Dopamine, L-745,870 and U-101958 (up to 1 microM) were devoid of effect on forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in control, non-transfected HEK293 cells. 7. The agonist effects of dopamine, L-745,870 and U-101958 in HEK293/D4 cells could be antagonized by spiperone (pK(B) 8.2-8.8) and clozapine (pK(B) 7.1), but not by raclopride (pK(B) < 5). None of these antagonists had any significant agonist activity at concentrations up to 10 microM. 8. These results show that the putative dopamine D4 receptor antagonists, L-745,870 and U-101958 are not devoid of intrinsic activity at human recombinant dopamine D4.4 receptors. Therefore, they may not represent the most appropriate drugs for testing the benefit of D4 receptor antagonism in schizophrenic patients, if agonism should translate in vivo.

Cataleptogenic effect of subtype selective 5-HT receptor antagonists in the rat.

5-HT receptor antagonists with selectivity for 5-HT1A WAY-100635 (N-[2-[-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohe xanecarboxamide), 5-HT1B GR 127935 (N-[methoxy-3-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)phenyl]-2'-methyl-4'(5-methyl-1,2, 4-oxadiazol-3-yl)[1,1-biphenyl]-4-carboxamide x HCl), 5-HT2C SB 200646A (N-(1-methyl-5-indolyl)-N'-(3-pyridyl)urea x HCl) and 5-HT2A (ketanserin, fananserin and MDL 100,151 ((+/-)-alpha-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl]-4-pipe ridinemethanol) receptors were tested for cataleptogenic responses in rats. WAY-100635 (0.1-3 mg/kg, s.c.), ketanserin (0.1-3 mg/kg, s.c.), MDL 100,151 (0.3-3 mg/kg, s.c.) and fananserin (RP 62203; 3 mg/kg, s.c.) induced a significant catalepsy. GR 127935 (1 mg/kg, s.c.), SB 200646A (without effect per se at 10 mg/kg, s.c.) and MDL 100,151 (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) did not inhibit the cataleptic response to the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, loxapine (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.). Catalepsy induced by MDL 100,151 (3 mg/kg) was blocked by co-treatment with clozapine, but not by SB 200646A (both at 10 mg/kg, s.c.). Although clozapine displays significant affinity to 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors, the present results suggest that blockade of these receptors is not responsible for clozapine's anticataleptic activity.

Discriminative stimulus properties of the atypical neuroleptic clozapine in rats: tests with subtype selective receptor ligands.

The interoceptive stimulus induced by clozapine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) has been characterized in an operant drug discrimination procedure in the rat using a wide range of receptor subtype-selective agonists and antagonists. Only the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine generalized fully to clozapine (>80%). Partial generalization (defined here as 40% maximal generalization) was seen with the D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (43% maximal generalization), the alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (67%) and the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist methoxyidazoxan (42%). All other specific agents tested induced <25% maximal generalization, including the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (24%), the histamine H1 receptor antagonist mepyramine (21%), the D2 antagonist typical neuroleptic haloperidol (23%), the D4 receptor antagonist L-745,870 (14%), the 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT1A) receptor agonist S-14506 (8%), the 5-HT2A receptor antagonists ketanserin (0%) and M100907 (12%), the 5-HT2B/2C receptor antagonists SB 200646A (8%) and SDZ SER 082 (6%), and the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron (0%). The clozapine discriminative stimulus was not blocked by the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390, or by the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY 100635, when given concomitantly with clozapine. Although the results suggest that muscarinic antagonism plays a major role in the clozapine cue, the results have to be considered in the light of the full generalization to clozapine seen with various antipsychotic agents which have very low affinity for muscarinic receptors, including zotepine, quetiapine, JL13 and PNU 96415 (a finding replicated in rats from the same breeding colony as those which generalized to scopolamine). Thus, generalization to clozapine for antipsychotics with multiple affinities but with low muscarinic affinity is probably mediated by additive or perhaps supra-additive actions at other receptors, although extensive studies with various combinations of drug mixtures are required to validate this hypothesis.

Effect of plasma protein binding on in vivo activity and brain penetration of glycine/NMDA receptor antagonists.

A major issue in designing drugs as antagonists at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor has been to achieve good in vivo activity. A series of 4-hydroxyquinolone glycine antagonists was found to be active in the DBA/2 mouse anticonvulsant assay, but improvements in in vitro affinity were not mirrored by corresponding increases in anticonvulsant activity. Here we show that binding of the compounds to plasma protein limits their brain penetration. Relative binding to the major plasma protein, albumin, was measured in two different ways: by a radioligand binding experiment or using an HPLC assay, for a wide structural range of glycine/NMDA site ligands. These measures of plasma protein binding correlate well (r = 0.84), and the HPLC assay has been used extensively to quantify plasma protein binding. For the 4-hydroxyquinolone series, binding to plasma protein correlates (r = 0.92) with log P (octanol/pH 7.4 buffer) over a range of log P values from 0 to 5. The anticonvulsant activity increases with in vitro affinity, but the slope of a plot of pED50 versus pIC50 is low (0.40); taking plasma protein binding into account in this plot increases the slope to 0.60. This shows that binding to albumin in plasma reduces the amount of compound free to diffuse across the blood-brain barrier. Further evidence comes from three other experiments: (a) Direct measurements of brain/blood ratios for three compounds (2, 16, 26) show the ratio decreases with increasing log R. (b) Warfarin, which competes for albumin binding sites dose-dependently, decreased the ED50 of 26 for protection against seizures induced by NMDLA. (c) Direct measurements of brain penetration using an in situ brain perfusion model in rat to measure the amount of drug crossing the blood-brain barrier showed that compounds 2, 26, and 32 penetrate the brain well in the absence of plasma protein, but this is greatly reduced when the drug is delivered in plasma. In the 4-hydroxyquinolones glycine site binding affinity increases with lipophilicity of the 3-substituent up to a maximum at a log P around 3, then does not improve further. When combined with increasing protein binding, this gives a parabolic relationship between predicted in vivo activity and log P, with a maximum log P value of 2.39. Finally, the plasma protein binding studies have been extended to other series of glycine site antagonists, and its is shown that for a given log P these have similar protein binding to the 4-hydroxyquinolones, except for compounds that are not acidic. The results have implications for the design of novel glycine site antagonists, and it is suggested that it is necessary to either keep log P low or pKa high to obtain good central nervous system activity.

Clozapine inhibits catalepsy induced by olanzapine and loxapine, but prolongs catalepsy induced by SCH 23390 in rats.

Loxapine (0.3 mg/kg s.c.), olanzapine (10 mg/kg s.c.) and SCH 23390 (R-(+)-chloro-2, 3, 4, 5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1-H-3-benzazepine; 1 mg/kg, s.c.), but not clozapine (10 mg/kg, s.c.), induced catalepsy in rats. Co-administration of clozapine (1, 3 and 10 mg/kg s.c.) dose-dependently inhibited loxapine-induced catalepsy. Clozapine (10 mg/kg s.c.) also prevented the induction of catalepsy by olanzapine. In addition, clozapine abolished the catalepsy induced by loxapine when it was administered after the response had fully developed. In contrast, the duration of SCH 23390-induced catalepsy was prolonged by clozapine, indicating that its anti-catalepsy effects against olanzapine and loxapine are unlikely to be caused by muscle relaxation, sedation or stimulation. Since SCH 23390-induced catalepsy is reported to be blocked by scopolamine, dizocilpine (MK-801) or 8-hydroxy-dipropylamino-tetralin, it is unlikely that muscarinic blockade, NMDA ion channel blockade and 5-HT1A receptor agonism, respectively, are involved in clozapine's action, but the mechanism by which clozapine exerts this anti-cataleptic effect remains unknown.

4-substituted-3-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-ones: acidic and nonacidic glycine site N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists with in vivo activity.

4-Substituted-3-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-ones have been synthesized and evaluated in vitro for antagonist activity at the glycine site on the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor and in vivo for anticonvulsant activity in the DBA/2 strain of mouse in an audiogenic seizure model. 4-Amino-3-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one (3) is 40-fold lower in binding affinity but only 4-fold weaker as an anticonvulsant than the acidic 4-hydroxy compound 1. Methylsulfonylation at the 4-position of 3 gives an acidic compound (6, pKa = 6.0) where affinity is fully restored but in vivo potency is significantly reduced (Table 1). Methylation at the 4-position of 1 to give 18 results in the abolition of measurable affinity, but the attachment of neutral hydrogen bond-accepting groups to the methyl group of 18 produces compounds with comparable in vitro and in vivo activity to 1 (e.g., 23 and 28, Table 2). Replacement of the 4-hydroxy group of 1 with an ethyl group abolishes activity (42), but again, incorporation of neutral hydrogen bond acceptors to the terminal carbon atom restores affinity (e.g., 36, 39, and 40, Table 3). Replacement of the 4-hydroxy group of the high-affinity compound 2 with an amino group produces a compound with 200-fold reduced affinity (43; IC50 = 0.42 microM, Table 4) which is nevertheless still 10-fold higher in affinity than 3. The results in this paper indicate that anionic functionality is not an absolute requirement for good affinity at the glycine/NMDA site and provide compelling evidence for the existence of a ligand/receptor hydrogen bond interaction between an acceptor attached to the 4-position of the ligand and a hydrogen bond donor attached to the receptor.

L-745,870, a subtype selective dopamine D4 receptor antagonist, does not exhibit a neuroleptic-like profile in rodent behavioral tests.

This study examined the high-affinity, selective dopamine D4 receptor antagonist, L-745,870 (3-([4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2, 3-b]pyridine) in rodent behavioral models used to predict antipsychotic potential and side-effect liabilities in humans. In contrast to the classical neuroleptic, haloperidol, and the atypical neuroleptic, clozapine, L-745,870 failed to antagonize amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice or impair conditioned avoidance responding in the rat at doses selectively blocking D4 receptors. Furthermore, L-745,870 failed to reverse the deficit in prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle responding induced by the nonselective dopamine D2/3/4 receptor agonist apomorphine, an effect which was abolished in rats pretreated with the D2/3 receptor antagonist, raclopride (0.2 mg/kg s.c.). L-745,870 had no effect on apomorphine-induced stereotypy in the rat but did induce catalepsy in the mouse, albeit at a high dose of 100 mg/kg, which is likely to occupy dopamine D2 receptors in vivo. High doses also impaired motor performance; in rats L-745,870 significantly reduced spontaneous locomotor activity (minimum effective dose = 30 mg/kg) and in mice, L-745,870 reduced the time spent on a rotarod revolving at 15 rpm (minimum effective dose = 100 mg/kg). Altogether these results suggest that dopamine D4 receptor antagonism is not responsible for the ability of clozapine to attenuate amphetamine-induced hyperactivity and conditioned avoidance responding in rodents. Furthermore, the lack of effect of L-745,870 in these behavioral tests is consistent with the inability of the compound to alleviate psychotic symptoms in humans.