Synthesis and antibronchospastic activity of 8-alkoxy- and 8-(alkylamino)imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines.

Theophylline still occupies a dominant place in asthma therapy. Unfortunately its adverse central nervous system (CNS) stimulant effects can dramatically limit its use, and adjustments in the dosage are often needed. We have synthesized a new series of imidazo[1,2-alpha]pyrazine derivatives which are much more potent bronchodilators than theophylline in vivo and do not exhibit the CNS stimulatory profile. In vitro studies on isolated rat uterus and guinea pig trachea confirm the high potentialities of these derivatives. 6-Bromo-8-(methylamino)imidazo[1,2-alpha]-pyrazine-3-carbonitrile (23) is identified as the most potent compound of the series. As in the case of theophylline, phosphodiesterase inhibition appears unlikely to be the unique mechanism of action of this series of heterocycles.

Synthesis and contractile activity of new pseudopeptido and thioaromatic analogues of leukotriene D4.

Seven new pseudopeptido and thioaromatic leukotriene analogues were synthesized and their agonist-antagonist and binding activities investigated. The synthesis led to the pleasing observation that the analogue in which the cysteinyl-glycine moiety was replaced by a 6-mercapto-3-(E)-hexenoic acid, not only exhibited potent affinity (guinea-pig lung parenchyma, IC50: 5 x 10(-9) M) but also showed 30% of the LTD4 agonist activity (guinea-pig ileum, ED 50: 2.7 x 10(-9)) giving very important key information on LTD4 geometry to the receptor. This compound was the first stable new pseudopeptido-leukotriene with such agonist activity and should contribute to the understanding of the metabolism of leukotriene D4. In addition, inversion of chirality at C5 and C6 carbon atoms of the leukotriene chain or replacement of the cysteinyl-glycine moiety by a thioaromatic acid led to new weak antagonists of the LTD4.

Comparative biological activities of the four synthetic (5,6)-dihete isomers.

(5,6)-dihydroxy-7,9-trans-11,14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acids [5,6)-DiHETEs) were synthesized and separated into four pure diastereoisomers. They were tested for comparative binding affinities to leukotriene receptors (LTC4, LTD4, LTB4) in guinea pig lung membranes. Only (5S,6R)-DiHETE was recognized by the LTD4 receptor, the other receptors interacted with neither of the four isomers. (5S,6R)-DiHETE also contracted ileum in vitro and this effect was inhibited by the LTD4 receptor antagonists ICI 198,615 and SKF104,353. These data suggest that the bioproduct (5S,6R)-DiHETE generated by enzymatic conversion of LTA4 could have some LTD4-like activity when produced in large concentrations.

Synthesis and contractile activity of new acetylenic and allenic analogues of leukotrienes C4 and D4: importance of the Z-11,12 double bond.

The (5S,6R) isomers of new acetylenic and allenic analogues of leukotrienes C4 and D4 were synthesized for comparative pharmacological studies on intestinal smooth muscle preparations. These new analogues are poor spasmogenic agonists, the replacement of the 11,12-ene with a relatively more stable triple bond causing an important reduction in intrinsic activity. They did not show any significant antagonist activity. Unexpectedly, these results prove that the 11,12 portion in the triene structure of the lipophilic chain is critical for an agonist activity.

Evidence for the existence of high affinity binding sites for indomethacin on human blood platelets.

Using human blood-washed platelets and [3H]indomethacin, we demonstrated the presence of saturable, time- and temperature-dependent high affinity binding sites for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The observed Kd value for indomethacin was 5 nM. Structural specificity of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug site was studied with arylacetic acids, anthranilic acids, and compounds from other chemical families. Arylacetic acid drugs had affinities which were similar to the affinity of indomethacin. Affinity differences among the other drugs may be related to the presence or absence of the lipophilic substituent on the central ring. As expected, anti-inflammatory pyrrazole derivatives, aspirin, bucloxic acid, cortisol, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, and the chemotactic peptide formyl-Met-Leu-Phe were not recognized by the indomethacin binding site.

[Quantitative determination of drugs by in situ spectrophotometry of chromatograms for pharmacokinetic studies. I. Sulpiride and other benzamides, vincamine, naftazone (author's transl)]. / Dosage des médicaments par spectrophotométrie in situ des chromatogrammes en vue de leur étude pharmacocinétique. I. Sulpiride et autres benzamides, vincamine, naftazone.

Assays are proposed for sulpiride and other benzamides, vincamine and naftazone in plasma (or blood) and urine with direct UV reflectance spectrophotometry on this are applied directly on TLC along with a calibration curve on each plate. Plasma (or total blood) samples are extracted, and an internal standard is added before aplication; slopes of the obtained calibration curves do not change significantly from plate to plate, thus allowing several determinations on the same plate. The sensitivity is 2 microgram in a 1-ml sample (amount applied 30 ng) for sulpiride and related compounds and about the same for vincamine. Naftazone is determined in plasma with simultaneous reflectance and transmittance spectrophotometric measurements at 520 nm on chromatoplates sprayed with lead acetate, the sensitivity reached is 10 ng in a 1-ml sample (amount applied 0.5 ng). For all drugs studied, the proposed techniques are specific, reliable and sensitive enough and can be used to perform pharmacokinetic studies in human or in animal after administration of doses in the therapeutic range.