SNC 80 and related delta opioid agonists.

The discovery of the selective delta (delta) opioid agonists SNC 80 and BW373U86, which possess a diarylmethylpiperazine structure unique among opioids, was a major advance in the field of delta-opioid ligands. Much research has been performed to uncover the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of this class of ligands and also to compare the diarylmethylpiperazines with the traditional morphinan-based delta opioids. This review focuses on the development of the SAR of this unique series of ligands, and discusses questions which remain unanswered.

Assessment of SNC 80 and naltrindole within a conditioned taste aversion design.

Although compounds with relative selectivity for the mu and kappa opiate receptors subtypes have been reported to condition taste aversions, it is not known whether systemically administered delta compounds have the ability to produce aversions. To that end, female Long-Evans rats were adapted to water deprivation and were given pairings of a novel saccharin solution and various doses of the selective delta agonist SNC 80 (0.32-10.0 mg/kg; Experiment 1) or the selective delta antagonist naltrindole (1.0-18.0 mg/kg; Experiment 2). For comparison, the relatively selective mu agonist morphine (Experiment 1) and mu antagonist naloxone (Experiment 2) were assessed under identical conditions. Both SNC 80 (Experiment 1) and naltrindole (Experiment 2) were effective as unconditioned stimuli within this design, inducing dose-dependent taste aversions with repeated conditioning trials. Although at no dose did animals injected with SNC 80 differ from those injected with morphine, aversions induced by SNC 80 were acquired at a faster rate than those induced by morphine. Subjects injected with naloxone drank significantly less than those injected with naltrindole at the 10 mg/kg dose, and aversions induced by naloxone at 5.6 and 10 mg/kg were acquired at a faster rate than those induced by naltrindole. Although the basis for opioid agonist- and antagonist-induced taste aversions is not known, the differences between aversions induced by SNC 80 and naltrindole and those induced by morphine and naloxone, respectively, may be a function of their relative selectivity for specific opiate receptor subtypes.

Probes for narcotic receptor mediated phenomena. 26. Synthesis and biological evaluation of diarylmethylpiperazines and diarylmethylpiperidines as novel, nonpeptidic delta opioid receptor ligands.

We recently reported (+)-4-¿(alphaR)-alpha-¿(2S,5R)-4-allyl-2, 5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl¿-3-methoxybenzyl-N,N-diethylbenzamide (1b, SNC80) as a novel nonpeptidic delta receptor agonist and explored the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of a series of related derivatives. We have found that delta binding activities and selectivity showed little change when the 3-methoxy group in 1b was removed or replaced by the other substituents, whereas the N, N-diethylbenzamide group is important for interaction with the delta receptor. Extensive modification of the piperazine nucleus led to the synthesis of a new series of N, N-diethyl(alpha-piperazinylbenzyl)benzamides (2, 3a-e), N, N-diethyl(alpha-piperidinyl or piperidinylidenebenzyl)benzamides (4a, 5a-c, 6a-b), and related derivatives (4b, 7a-c). Several compounds (2, 3a, 3e, 6a) strongly bound to the delta receptor with K(i) values in the low nanomolar range. On the other hand, the binding affinities of these compounds for the mu and kappa receptors were negligible, indicating excellent delta opioid receptor subtype selectivity. The two nitrogen atoms on the piperazine nucleus showed different SAR in the interaction of this series of compounds at the delta receptor. Nitrogen N(4) appears to be an important structural element and is essential for electrostatic interaction, while N(1) seems to be unnecessary for recognition at the delta receptor.

Rat natural killer cell, T cell and macrophage functions after intracerebroventricular injection of SNC 80.

We investigated the effects of (+)-4-[(alpha R)-alpha-((2S, 5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]-N, N-diethylbenzamide (SNC 80), a nonpeptidic delta-opioid receptor-selective agonist, on rat leukocyte functions. Intracerebroventricular injection of SNC 80 (20 nmol) in Fischer 344N male rats did not affect splenic natural killer cell activity compared with intracerebroventricular saline-injected controls. SNC 80 also had no effect on concanavalin A-, anti-T cell receptor-, interleukin-2- and anti-T cell receptor + interleukin-2-induced splenic and thymic lymphocyte proliferation in most experiments. In some experiments, however, SNC 80 significantly (P < .01) caused a 41 to 93% increase of concanavalin A-, anti-T cell receptor-, interleukin-2- and anti-T cell receptor + interleukin-2-induced splenic lymphocyte proliferation compared to controls. Additionally, SNC 80 did not significantly affect splenic T cell or natural killer cell populations as measured by the expression of T cell receptoralphabeta, and T helper (CD4), T suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8) and natural killer cell surface markers. Finally, SNC 80 did not affect interferon-gamma- or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced splenic nitric oxide, and LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by splenic macrophages. These results suggest that SNC 80 could be useful in the treatment of pain without suppressing immune function. However, the potential immunoenhancing properties of SNC 80 may be also valuable in immunocompromised individuals.

Opioid peptide receptor studies. 9. Identification of a novel non-mu- non-delta-like opioid peptide binding site in rat brain.

Quantitative binding studies resolved two high-affinity [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin binding sites in rat brain membranes depleted of mu binding sites by pretreatment with the irreversible agent BIT. The two binding sites had lower (delta ncx-2, Ki = 96.6 nM) and higher (delta ncx-1, Ki = 1.55 nM) affinity for DPDPE. The ligand-selectivity profile of the delta ncx-1 site was that of a classic delta binding site. The ligand-selectivity profile of the delta ncx-2 site was neither mu- or delta-like. The Ki values of selected agents for the delta ncx-2 site were: [pCl]DPDPE (3.9 nM), DPLPE (140 nM), and DAMGO (2.6 nM). Under these assay conditions, [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin binding to the cells expressing the cloned mu receptor is very low and pretreatment of cell membranes with BIT almost completely inhibits [3H]DAMGO and [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin binding. Intracerebroventricular administration of antisense DNA to the cloned delta receptor selectively decreased [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin binding to the delta ncx-1 site. Administration of buprenorphine to rats 24 h prior to preparation of membranes differentially affected mu, delta ncx-1, and delta ncx-2 binding sites. Viewed collectively, these studies have identified a novel non-mu- non-delta-like binding site in rat brain.

Opioid peptide receptor studies. 8. One of the mouse brain deltaNCX binding sites is similar to the cloned mouse opioid delta receptor: further evidence for heterogeneity of delta opioid receptors.

Quantitative ligand binding studies resolved two subtypes of the delta opioid receptor, termed delta(ncx1) and delta(ncx2), in mouse brain membranes depleted of mu receptors by pretreatment with the irreversible ligand, BIT. The purpose of the present study was to compare the binding parameters, ligand-selectivity profile and pharmacological properties of the cloned mouse delta receptor (MDOR) stably expressed in a cell line to the delta(ncx) binding sites of mouse brain. [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin labeled a single binding site in membranes prepared from MDOR cells under several different assay conditions including BIT-pretreatment. The MDOR had high affinity for delta agonists and antagonists. [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin labeled two binding sites in mouse brain membranes depleted of mu receptors by pretreatment with BIT: the delta(ncx1) site (high affinity for DPDPE and deltorphin) and the delta(ncx2) site (low affinity for DPDPE and deltorphin). Some agents were moderately selective for the delta(ncx2) site: [pCl]DPDPE (10.9-fold), JP41 (5.9-fold) and JP45 (3.8-fold). The Ki values of 12 opioids at the mouse MDOR were determined. These values were highly correlated with their values at the delta(ncx1) site but not the delta(ncx2) site. These data suggest that the delta(ncx2) site may be distinct from the cloned delta opioid receptor.

Probes for narcotic receptor-mediated phenomena. 25. Synthesis and evaluation of N-alkyl-substituted (alpha-piperazinylbenzyl)benzamides as novel, highly selective delta opioid receptor agonists.

A series of N-alkyl- and N,N-dialkyl-4-[alpha-[(2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl] benzyl]-benzamides were synthesized and evaluated for binding affinities at mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor subtypes. Several compounds (2e,f,h,i,m) strongly bound to the delta receptor with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. On the other hand, the binding affinities of these compounds for the mu and kappa receptors were in the micromolar or greater range indicating excellent delta opioid receptor subtype selectivities. In this series, two important structure-activity relationships were found for the delta receptor binding affinity. First, the spatial orientation of the alpha-benzylic position influenced the affinities with the alpha R derivatives 2a-n generally showing more than 10-fold greater affinity than the alpha S derivatives 3a-n. Second, the binding affinities were strongly influenced by the number of alkyl substituents on the amide nitrogen. N-Monoalkylbenzamide derivatives 2b-d showed lower affinity than N,N-dialkylbenzamide derivatives 2e-n, and the N-unsubstituted benzamide derivative 2a had the lowest affinity for the delta receptor in the series. The dramatic effect of the amide group substitution pattern on the binding affinity for the delta receptor strongly suggests that the amide function is an important structural element in the interaction of this series of compounds at the delta receptor. Selective compounds in this series were examined for binding affinity in cloned human mu and delta receptors. The results obtained generally paralleled those from the rat brain binding assay. Compounds 2e,f with potent delta binding affinities and high delta selectivities were shown to be delta agonists with high selectivity by studies in the guinea pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) preparations. Compound 2f was the most selective compound in the rat brain and GPI/MVD assays with 1755- and 958-fold delta vs mu selectivity, respectively.

Probes for narcotic receptor mediated phenomena. 23. Synthesis, opioid receptor binding, and bioassay of the highly selective delta agonist (+)-4-[(alpha R)-alpha-((2S,5R)-4-Allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]- N,N-diethylbenzamide (SNC 80) and related novel nonpeptide delta opioid receptor ligands.

The highly selective delta (delta) opioid receptor agonist SNC 80 [(+)-4- [(alpha R)-alpha-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]-N ,N- diethylbenzamide, (+)-21] and novel optically pure derivatives were synthesized from the enantiomers of 1-allyl-trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine (2). The piperazine (+/-)-2 was synthesized, and its enantiomers were obtained on a multigram scale in > 99% optical purity by optical resolution of the racemate with the camphoric acids. The absolute configuration of (+)-2 was determined to be 2S,5R by X-ray analysis of the salt with (+)-camphoric acid. Since the chirality of the starting material was known, and the relative configuration of compounds (-)-21, (-)-22, and (+)-23 were obtained by single-crystal X-ray analysis, the assignment of the absolute stereochemistry of the entire series could be made. Radioreceptor binding studies in rat brain preparations showed that methyl ethers (+)-21 (SNC 80) and (-)-25 exhibited strong selectivity for rat delta receptors with low nanomolar affinity to delta receptors and only micromolar affinity for rat mu (mu) opioid receptors. Compounds (-)-21, (-)-22, and (-)-23 showed micromolar affinities for delta opioid receptors. The unsubstituted derivative (+)-22 and the fluorinated derivative (-)-27 showed > 2659- and > 2105-fold delta/mu binding selectivity, respectively. The latter derivatives are the most selective ligands described in the new series. Studies with some of the compounds described in the isolated mouse vas deferens and guinea pig ileum bioassays revealed that all were agonists with different degrees of selectivity for the delta opioid receptor. These data show that (+)-21 and (+)-22 are potent delta receptor agonists and suggest that these compounds will be valuable tools for further study of the delta opioid receptor at the molecular level, including its function and role in analgesia and drug abuse.

The third extracellular loop of the human delta-opioid receptor determines the selectivity of delta-opioid agonists.

In the present study, we replaced the third extracellular loop of the human delta-opioid receptor with that of the human mu-opioid receptor. A modified polymerase chain reaction overlap extension method was used to achieve the exact splicing in the chimera to show the importance of the extracellular loop in ligand binding without interference from transmembrane substitutions. The replacement of the third extracellular loop did not alter the affinity of [3H]diprenorphine but caused a dramatic decrease in the affinity of both the delta-selective peptide agonists cyclo[D-Pen2,4'Cl-Phe4,D-Pen5]enkephalin and deltorphin II and the delta-selective nonpeptide agonists SNC 121 and (-)TAN 67. The affinities of the mu-selective peptide agonist [D-Ala2-MePhe4-Gly-ol5]enkephalin and the mu-preferring nonpeptide agonist morphine were not affected. Site-directed mutagenesis studies show that the mechanism of ligand recognition might be different for each structural class of opioid ligands.

Rapid in vivo metabolism of a methylether derivative of (+/-)-BW373U86: the metabolic fate of [3H]SNC121 in rats.

Activation of opioid delta receptors produces antinociception without some of the side-effects associated with activation of mu and kappa receptors. (+/-)-BW373U86 [(+/-)-4-[(alpha-R*)-alpha-((2S*,5R*)-4-allyl-2, 5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-hydroxybenzyl]-N,N-diethylbenzamide] is a first generation, racemic nonpeptide, partially delta-selective opioid agonist that produces short-lived antinocioception. After systemic, but not central, administration, (+/-)-BW373U86 is also a naltrindole-reversible convulsant. SNC80 [(+)-4-[9-alpha-R)-alpha-((2S,5RO-4-allyl-2, 5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]-N,N-diethylbenzamide] is a chiral methylether derivative of (+/-)-BW373U86 with decreased potency, but greater selectivity for the delta-opioid receptor. Like BW373U86, SNC80 produces brief, nonlethal seizures when administered peripherally, albeit at higher doses. Radiolabeling of SNC80 yields a compound with similar pharmacology named [3H]SNC121. [3H]SNC121 was investigated to determine the relationship between its time course of metabolism and the physiological actions of SNC80. The biotransformation of i.p. administered [3H]SNC121 was established in rats in vivo and in vitro via high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of extracted radioactive tissues and fluids. Radioactive equivalents were characterized by their high-performance liquid chromatography retention times and opioid binding activity in rat brain membranes. The kidney, and especially the liver (within 5 min), rapidly metabolize SNC121 to a metabolite with delta-opioid activity coeluting with BW373U86. Direct i.c.v. administration of [3H]SNC121 resulted in minimal metabolism after 1 hr. We conclude that i.p., but not i.c.v., administered [3H]SNC121 can be metabolized rapidly and substantially by the liver to a BW373U86-like compound. The in vivo time course of metabolism after i.p. administration of [3H]SNC121 is consistent with the duration of SNC80 antinociception, and the rapid formation of a BW373U86-like metabolite may also account, in part, for its convulsant properties.

Structure-activity relationships for SNC80 and related compounds at cloned human delta and mu opioid receptors.

The racemic compound (+/-)-BW373U86 ¿(+/-)-4-((alpha R*)- alpha-((2S*,5R*)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-hydroxy- benzyl)-N,N-diethylbenzamide dihydrochloride} is a potent delta opioid receptor agonist in the mouse vas deferens assay with little mu or kappa opioid receptor activity in the guinea pig ileum tissue preparation. In contrast, radioligand binding studies show that (+/-)-BW373U86 is only about 10-fold selective for delta over mu opioid receptors. Studies of the enantiomeric forms of (+/-)-BW373U86 and derivatives (SNC80 and related compounds) show that some of these isomers are significantly better in both receptor binding and pharmacological selectivity than (+/-)-BW373U86. In this study we have determined the binding affinities of 10 different SNC80-related compounds at cloned human delta and mu opioid receptors and measured the potency of SNC80 for the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase. The most selective delta receptor ligand (SNC162) differed from SNC80 by the absence of the 3-methoxy substitution of the benzyl ring. The Ki for SNC162 at the delta receptor (0.625 nM) was over 8700-fold lower than that at the mu receptor (5500 nM), making this the most selective delta receptor ligand available. Reduction of the allyl side chain of SNC80 to produce radiolabeled [3H]SNC121 allowed direct measurement of the association and dissociation rate constants. SNC80 was 26-fold less potent than [D-Pen2, pCI-Phe4, D-Pen5]enkephalin in the delta receptor adenylyl cyclase inhibition assay, but showed full agonist activity with an EC50 value of 9.2 nM. The regulation of SNC80 binding affinity to the delta receptor by GTP analogs is undetectable in [3H]naltrindole binding inhibition studies, but direct binding studies with [3H]SNC121 in the presence of 100 microM 5'-guanylylimidotriphosphate show a 55% reduction in maximum binding site density consistent with a lower affinity for a part of the receptor population. Addition of 120 mM sodium chloride reduces SNC80 affinity nearly 40-fold in [3H]naltrindole binding inhibition studies. The results of these studies define specific structural features of these compounds responsible for opioid receptor interactions and suggest a possibly novel mechanism for delta receptor activation.

Opioid peptide receptor studies. 4. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the delta opioid receptor delineates opioid receptor subtypes.

Prior work in our laboratory has identified putative subtypes of delta (delta cx-1, delta cx-2, delta ncx-1, delta ncx-2) and kappa 2 (kappa 2a and kappa 2b) receptors. Previous studies showed that chronic (three day) i.c.v. administration of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the cloned delta opioid receptor selectively decreased [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin binding to the delta ncx site, not the delta cx-2 site. The present study extends this work by demonstrating that delta antisense DNA selectively affects the delta ncx-2 site sparing the other putative delta receptor subtypes and kappa 2 receptor subtypes. This selectivity is not due to anatomically specific effects of delta antisense DNA since autoradiograms show that delta binding is reduced in all regions of the brain after chronic i.c.v. administration of delta antisense DNA. These data strongly suggest that the delta cx-1, delta cx-2, delta ncx-1, kappa 2a and kappa 2b binding sites are different proteins than the delta ncx-2 binding site, which, based on its sensitivity to delta antisense DNA, is synonymous to the cloned delta opioid receptor. Viewed collectively, these data suggest that administration of delta antisense DNA, and by extension other receptor-selective antisense DNA, is a powerful approach to distinguishing between postulated receptor subtypes.

SNC 80, a selective, nonpeptidic and systemically active opioid delta agonist.

The present study has investigated the pharmacology of SNC 80, a nonpeptidic ligand proposed to be a selective delta agonist in vitro and in vivo. SNC 80 was potent in producing inhibition of electrically induced contractions of mouse vas deferens, but not in inhibiting contractions of the guinea pig isolated ileum (IC50 values of 2.73 nM and 5457 nM, respectively). The delta selective antagonist ICI 174,864 (1 microM) and the mu selective antagonist CTAP (1 microM) produced 236- and 1.9-fold increases, respectively, in the SNC 80 IC50 value in the mouse vas deferens. SNC 80 preferentially competed against sites labeled by [3H]naltrindole (delta receptors) rather than against those labeled by [3H]DAMGO (mu receptors) or [3H]U69, 593 kappa receptors) in mouse whole-brain assays. The ratios of the calculated Ki values for SNC 80 at mu/delta and kappa/delta sites were 495- and 248-fold, respectively, which indicates a significant degree of delta selectivity for this compound in radioligand binding assays. SNC 80 produced dose- and time-related antinociception in the mouse warm-water tail-flick test after i.c.v., i.th. and i.p. administration. The calculated A50 values (and 95% C.I.) for SNC 80 administered i.c.v., i.th. and i.p. were 104.9 (63.7-172.7) nmol, 69 (51.8-92.1) nmol and 57 (44.5-73.1) mg/kg, respectively. The i.c.v. administration of SNC 80 also produced dose- and time-related antinociception in the hot-plate test, with a calculated A50 value (and 95% C.I.) of 91.9 (60.3-140.0) nmol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Novel 1-phenylcycloalkanecarboxylic acid derivatives are potent and selective sigma 1 ligands.

Carbetapentane (1, 2-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]ethyl 1-phenyl-1-cyclopentanecarboxylate) binds with high affinity to sigma sites and is a potent antitussive, anticonvulsant, and spasmolytic agent. However, carbetapentane interacts at muscarinic binding sites as well, and it is not clear whether either of these receptor systems is involved in the mechanism(s) of action(s) of this drug. In an attempt to determine whether these psychoactivities can be attributed to interaction at sigma sites, a series of carbetapentane analogs were prepared. Phenyl ring substitution; contraction, expansion, and replacement with a methyl group of the cyclopentyl ring; replacement of the carboxylate function with an amide, methyl ether, and methylamine; and replacement of the N,N-diethyl substituent with a morpholino or piperidino moiety were investigated. All of these novel analogs were evaluated for binding to sigma 1 and sigma 2 sites, and comparison of binding at muscarinic m1 and m2 and PCP (1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine) receptors was performed. All of the compounds were selective for sigma 1 over sigma 2 sites, with the three most selective analogs being compounds 34 (65-fold), 35 (78-fold), and 39 (51-fold). None of the compounds were active at PCP sites, and chemical modification including (1) replacing the ester function, (2) replacing the cyclopentyl ring with a smaller ring system (cyclopropyl) or a methyl group, and (3) replacing the diethylamino moiety with a morpholino group resulted in > 220-fold selectivity over muscarinic receptor binding. Therefore, several of these novel compounds are potent, sigma 1-selective ligands which can now be investigated as potential antitussive, anticonvulsant, and antiischemic agents. These studies may reveal whether sigma 1 sites play a role in the pharmacological actions of these drugs.

Novel 1-phenylcycloalkanecarboxylic acid derivatives as potential anticonvulsant agents.

A series of analogues based on the anticonvulsant carbetapentane (1, 2-[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]ethyl 1-phenyl-1-cyclopentylcarboxylate) was prepared as potential novel anticonvulsant drugs. Structure-activity relationships of analogues in which the ester function and cyclopentane moieties were modified have been investigated by evaluating their ability to prevent seizures in the rat maximal electroshock test. These compounds (11, ED50 = 16 mumol/kg; 12, ED50 = 86 mumol/kg, and 23, ED50 = 173 mumol/kg) were effective anticonvulsants. Compound 11, an alkyl ether derivative of 1, was more potent than the parent compound (ED50 = 48 mumol/kg) and also showed a 2-fold increase in potency compared to that of the prototypic anticonvulsant drug diphenylhydantoin.