Antinociceptive and Discriminative Stimulus Effects of Six Novel Psychoactive Opioid Substances in Male Rats.

Compounds with novel or fentanyl-like structures continue to appear on the illicit drug market and have been responsible for fatalities, yet there are limited preclinical pharmacological data available to evaluate the risk of these compounds to public health. The purpose of the present study was to examine acetyl fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, 3,4-dichloro-N-[[1-(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl]methyl]benzamide (AH-7921), 1-cyclohexyl-4-(1,2-diphenylethyl)piperazine (MT-45), 4-chloro-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-2-piperidinylidene]-benzenesulfonamide (W-15), and 4-chloro-N-[1-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]-2-piperidinylidene]-benzenesulfonamide (W-18) for their relative potency to reference opioids and their susceptibility to naltrexone antagonism using the 55oC warm-water, tail-withdrawal assay of antinociception and a morphine drug discrimination assay in male, Sprague-Dawley rats. In the antinociception assay, groups of 8 rats per drug were placed into restraining tubes, their tails were immersed into 40o or 55oC water, and the latency for tail withdrawal was measured with a cutoff time of 15 seconds. In the drug discrimination assay, rats (n = 11) were trained to discriminate between 3.2 mg/kg morphine and saline, subcutaneously, in a two-choice, drug discrimination procedure under a fixed ratio-5 schedule of sucrose pellet delivery. Morphine, fentanyl, and four of the synthetic opioids dose dependently produced antinociception and fully substituted for morphine in the drug discrimination assay with the following rank order of potency: fentanyl > butyryl fentanyl > acetyl fentanyl > AH-7921 > MT45 > morphine. All drugs that produced antinociception or morphine-like discriminative stimulus effects were blocked by naltrexone. W-15 and W-18 did not show antinociceptive or morphine-like discriminative stimulus effects at the doses tested supporting a lack of opioid activity for these two compounds. These findings suggest that butyryl fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, AH-7941, and MT-45 have abuse liability like other opioid agonists. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: As novel psychoactive substances appear on the illicit drug market, preclinical pharmacological testing is required to assist law enforcement, medical professionals, and legal regulators with decisions about potential public health risks. In this study, four synthetic opioids, acetyl fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, AH-7921, and MT-45 produced effects similar to fentanyl and morphine and were blocked by naltrexone. These data suggest the four synthetic opioids possess similar abuse liability risks as typical opioid agonists.

Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its main metabolites on cardiovascular function in conscious rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The cardiovascular effects produced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'Ecstasy') contribute to its acute toxicity, but the potential role of its metabolites in these cardiovascular effects is not known. Here we examined the effects of MDMA metabolites on cardiovascular function in rats. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Radiotelemetry was employed to evaluate the effects of s.c. administration of racemic MDMA and its phase I metabolites on BP, heart rate (HR) and locomotor activity in conscious male rats. KEY RESULTS: MDMA (1-20 mg·kg(-1)) produced dose-related increases in BP, HR and activity. The peak effects on HR occurred at a lower dose than peak effects on BP or activity. The N-demethylated metabolite, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), produced effects that mimicked those of MDMA. The metabolite 3,4-dihydroxymethamphetamine (HHMA; 1-10 mg·kg(-1)) increased HR more potently and to a greater extent than MDMA, whereas 3,4-dihydroxyamphetamine (HHA) increased HR, but to a lesser extent than HHMA. Neither dihydroxy metabolite altered motor activity. The metabolites 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA) did not affect any of the parameters measured. The tachycardia produced by MDMA and HHMA was blocked by the ß-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results demonstrate that HHMA may contribute significantly to the cardiovascular effects of MDMA in vivo. As such, determining the molecular mechanism of action of HHMA and the other hydroxyl metabolites of MDMA warrants further study.

Powerful cocaine-like actions of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), a principal constituent of psychoactive 'bath salts' products.

The abuse of psychoactive 'bath salts' containing cathinones such as 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a growing public health concern, yet little is known about their pharmacology. Here, we evaluated the effects of MDPV and related drugs using molecular, cellular, and whole-animal methods. In vitro transporter assays were performed in rat brain synaptosomes and in cells expressing human transporters, while clearance of endogenous dopamine was measured by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry in mouse striatal slices. Assessments of in vivo neurochemistry, locomotor activity, and cardiovascular parameters were carried out in rats. We found that MDPV blocks uptake of [(3)H]dopamine (IC(50)=4.1 nM) and [(3)H]norepinephrine (IC(50)=26 nM) with high potency but has weak effects on uptake of [(3)H]serotonin (IC(50)=3349 nM). In contrast to other psychoactive cathinones (eg, mephedrone), MDPV is not a transporter substrate. The clearance of endogenous dopamine is inhibited by MDPV and cocaine in a similar manner, but MDPV displays greater potency and efficacy. Consistent with in vitro findings, MDPV (0.1-0.3 mg/kg, intravenous) increases extracellular concentrations of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. Additionally, MDPV (0.1-3.0 mg/kg, subcutaneous) is at least 10 times more potent than cocaine at producing locomotor activation, tachycardia, and hypertension in rats. Our data show that MDPV is a monoamine transporter blocker with increased potency and selectivity for catecholamines when compared with cocaine. The robust stimulation of dopamine transmission by MDPV predicts serious potential for abuse and may provide a mechanism to explain the adverse effects observed in humans taking high doses of 'bath salts' preparations.

Role of central and peripheral adenosine receptors in the cardiovascular responses to intraperitoneal injections of adenosine A1 and A2A subtype receptor agonists.

1. The cardiovascular effects of the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) and the adenosine A2A receptor agonist 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680) were investigated in rats implanted with telemetry transmitters for the measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. 2. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of the adenosine A1 receptor agonist CPA led to dose-dependent decreases in both blood pressure and heart rate. These effects of 0.3 mg kg(-1) CPA were antagonized by i.p. injections of the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethyl-xanthine (CPT), but not by i.p. injections of the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist 3-(3-hydroxypropyl)-8-(m-methoxystyryl)-7-methyl-1-propargylxanthine phosphate disodium salt (MSX-3). Injections (i.p.) of the peripherally acting nonselective adenosine antagonist 8-sulfophenyltheophylline (8-SPT) and the purported nonselective adenosine antagonist caffeine also antagonized the cardiovascular effects of CPA. 3. The adenosine A2A agonist CGS 21680 given i.p. produced a dose-dependent decrease in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate. These effects of 0.5 mg kg(-1) CGS 21680 were antagonized by i.p. injections of the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist MSX-3, but not by i.p. injections of the antagonists CPT, 8-SPT or caffeine. 4. Central administration (intracerebral ventricular) of CGS 21680 produced an increase in heart rate, but no change in blood pressure. MSX-3 given i.p. antagonized the effects of the central injection of CGS 21680. 5. These results suggest that adenosine A1 receptor agonists produce decreases in blood pressure and heart rate that are mediated by A1 receptors in the periphery, with little or no contribution of central adenosine A1 receptors to those effects. 6. The heart rate increasing effect of adenosine A2A agonists appears to be mediated by adenosine A2A receptors in the central nervous system. The blood pressure decreasing effect of adenosine A2A agonists is most probably mediated in the periphery.

Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of 2-fluoro-3-(2(S)-azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine (2-F-A-85380), a ligand for imaging cerebral nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with positron emission tomography.

2-[(18)F]fluoro-3-(2(S)-azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine (2-[(18)F]F-A-85380), a positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand for neuronal alpha4beta2(*) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, was evaluated for its pharmacology and safety. In the Ames test for mutagenicity, 2-F-A-85380 was without effect in five bacterial strains. No evidence of gross pathology or histopathological changes occurred in either 2-day acute (0.4-4000 nmol/kg i.v.) or 14-day expanded acute (40-4000 nmol/kg i.v.) toxicity studies in mice. Similarly, hematology and serum chemistry values in rhesus monkeys administered 60 nmol/kg i.v. were not affected over 14 days. Like nicotine, 2-F-A-85380 produced convulsions in mice at very high doses. The ED(50) value of 2-F-A-85380 for eliciting tonic-clonic convulsions (5.0 micromol/kg i.v.) was nearly 4 times greater than that of nicotine (ED(50) = 1.4 micromol/kg i.v.). Lower doses of 2-F-A-85380 (30-300 nmol/kg i.v.) and nicotine (20-400 nmol/kg i.v.) increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac contractility in rats. Notably, the PR, QRS, or QTc intervals of the rat electrocardiogram were unaffected by either drug. Dosimetry studies indicated that the urinary bladder wall was the critical organ and total radiation exposure was within acceptable limits. Estimated doses of 2-F-A-85380 required to elevate blood pressure and heart rate by 10% ranged from 40 to 58 nmol/kg i.v. Nevertheless, the estimated radiopharmaceutically relevant dose of [(18)F]2-F-A-8380 required for initial PET imaging studies, 10 pmol/kg, is less than 1/4000th of the doses calculated (40-58 nmol/kg i.v.) to elevate blood pressure and heart rate by 10% in humans and should elicit no clinically significant effects and have acceptable dosimetry.

Lack of adenosine A1 and dopamine D2 receptor-mediated modulation of the cardiovascular effects of the adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS 21680.

Some behavioral and biochemical effects of the systemically administered adenosine A(2A) receptor agonist 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680) in rats are potentiated by adenosine A(1) receptor agonists and counteracted by dopamine D2 receptor agonists. In the present study we compared potentiating and antagonistic interactions between CGS 21680 and adenosine A(1) and dopamine D2 receptor agonists on motor activity and on cardiovascular responses (arterial blood pressure and heart rate). The motor-depressant effects produced by CGS 21680 (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) were potentiated by the adenosine A(1) receptor agonist N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, 0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) and counteracted by the dopamine D2 receptor agonist quinpirole (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.). In contrast, neither CPA nor quinpirole significantly modified the decrease in arterial pressure or the increase in heart rate induced by CGS 21680. However, the adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist 3-(3-hydroxypropyl)-8-(m-methoxystyryl)-7-methyl-1-propargylxanthine phosphate disodium salt (MSX-3, 3 mg/kg, i.p.) counteracted both the motor-depressant and cardiovascular effects of CGS 21680. Therefore, the effects of the systemically administered adenosine A(2A) receptor agonist CGS 21680 on cardiovascular function, in contrast to its effects on motor behavior, appear to be independent of the effects of adenosine A(1) and dopamine D2 receptor activity.

Mixed cocaine agonist/antagonist properties of (+)-methyl 4beta-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylpiperidine-3alpha-carboxylate, a piperidine-based analog of cocaine.

The present study investigated the pharmacological properties of a piperidine-based novel cocaine analog, namely, (+)-methyl 4beta-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methylpiperidine-3alpha-carboxylic acid [(+)-CPCA]. Like cocaine, (+)-CPCA inhibited rat synaptosomal dopamine and norepinephrine uptake with high affinity, but was 33-fold less potent than cocaine in inhibiting serotonin uptake. Like cocaine, (+)-CPCA is a locomotor stimulant, although it was less potent and efficacious than cocaine. Importantly, pretreatment with (+)-CPCA dose dependently blocked the locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine in rats. (+)-CPCA completely substituted for cocaine in drug discrimination tests, although it was about 3 times less potent than cocaine. It was also self-administered by rats. Unexpectedly, (+)-CPCA did not enhance cocaine-induced convulsions in mice. As expected from rodent studies, rhesus monkeys readily self-administered (+)-CPCA. However, compared with cocaine, (+)-CPCA showed limited reinforcing properties in rats as assessed by both fixed and progressive ratio intravenous drug self-administration tests. These results collectively suggest that (+)-CPCA has an atypical pharmacological profile having both cocaine-like "agonist" and some cocaine "antagonist" properties. These properties of (+)-CPCA suggest that it may have utility in the treatment of cocaine craving and dependence.

2,3-Disubstituted quinuclidines as a novel class of dopamine transporter inhibitors.

There is considerable interest in developing dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitors as potential therapies for the treatment of cocaine abuse. We report herein our pharmacophore-based discovery and molecular modeling-assisted rational design of 2,3-disubstituted quinuclidines as potent DAT inhibitors with a novel chemical scaffold. Through 3-D-database pharmacophore searching, compound 12 was identified as a very weak DAT inhibitor with K(i) values of 7.3 and 8.9 microM in [3H]mazindol binding and in inhibition of dopamine reuptake, respectively. Molecular modeling-assisted rational design and chemical modifications led to identification of potent analogues (-)-29 and 34 with K(i) values of 14 and 32 nM for both compounds in binding affinity and inhibition of dopamine reuptake, respectively. Behavioral pharmacological evaluations in rodents showed that 34 has a profile very different from cocaine. While 34 is substantially more potent than cocaine as a DAT inhibitor, it is approximately four times less potent than cocaine in mimicking the discriminative stimulus properties of cocaine in rat. On the other hand, 34 (3-30 mg/kg) lacks either the locomotor stimulant or stereotypic properties of cocaine in mice. Importantly, 34 blocks locomotor stimulant activity induced by 20 mg/kg cocaine in mice, with an estimated ED(50) of 19 mg/kg. Taken together, our data suggest that 34 represents a class of potent DAT inhibitors with a novel chemical scaffold and a behavioral pharmacological profile different from that of cocaine in rodents. Thus, 34 may serve as a novel lead compound in the ultimate development of therapeutic entities for cocaine abuse and/or addiction.

SAR studies of piperidine-based analogues of cocaine. 4. Effect of N-modification and ester replacement.

A series of novel N- and 3alpha-modified piperidine-based analogues of cocaine were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit reuptake of DA, 5-HT, and NE by the DA, 5-HT, and NE transporters. N-Demethylation of trans-(+)-3alpha-piperidine-based ligands leads to improved activity at the SERT and NET and modest changes at the DAT. Replacement of the N-methyl group in trans-(+)-ester 1a with phenylalkyl groups leads to a modest 2.3-fold improvement in activity at the SERT (K(i) < or = 3.27 microM), insignificant changes at the NET, and a 3.5-fold loss in activity at the DAT (K(i) > or = 810 nM); however, such replacement in cis-(-)-ester 4, the more potent isomer of 1a, leads, in general, to a significant decrease in activity at all monoamine transporters (K(i) > 1 microM). Other N-modified ligands, including the ligands with polar groups incorporated in the N-alkyl substituent (3e-g) and ligands lacking the basic nitrogen (3i and 6d), show decreased activity at all monoamine transporters, though ligands 3e-g are similar in potency at the NET to 1a. N-Norester 2a, a possible metabolite of the lead compound 1a, and alcohol 1c, a compound with a 3alpha-substituent that is more stable to metabolism than 1a, were selected for further behavioral tests in animals. Alcohol 1c and ester 2a are similar in potency at the DAT to cocaine, ester 1a, and oxadiazole 1b, and both fully substitute for cocaine and have potency similar to that of cocaine in drug discrimination tests. Like cocaine, 1c increased locomotor activity (LMA) monotonically with time, whereas 2a produces biphasic effects consisting of initial locomotor depression followed by delayed locomotor stimulation. An interesting difference between cocaine, ester 1a, alcohol 1c, and N-norester 2a is that 1c and 2a are significantly longer acting in LMA tests. Although this result was anticipated for alcohol 1c, it is rather surprising for 2a which has an ester function susceptible to hydrolysis, a pathway of in vivo deactivation of cocaine and its ester analogues. The present results may have important implications for our understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the behavioral actions of cocaine and of the structural features needed for the design of the new leads in the discovery of a cocaine abuse medication.