The synthesis and biological activity of a highly selective adenosine A2a receptor agonist.

Three novel nucleosides 1, 2, and 3 were prepared that contained side chains at the 2-position of adenosine. Compound 1 was shown to be the most selective A2a receptor agonist reported to date having an A1/A2 ratio of 2400. In addition, compound 1 was shown to reduce blood pressure in rats and dogs with only minimal effects on heart rate.

New potent alpha-glucohydrolase inhibitor MDL 73945 with long duration of action in rats.

Inhibition of intestinal alpha-glucohydrolase activity is one approach for reducing the glycemic response from dietary carbohydrate and may prove useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In this article, we describe the pharmacological properties of a time-dependent intestinal alpha-glucohydrolase inhibitor, MDL 73945. When preincubated 2 h with a rat intestinal mucosa preparation before substrate addition, MDL 73945 was a potent inhibitor of sucrase, maltase, glucoamylase, and isomaltase activities (MDL 73945 concentrations required to cause a 50% decrease in enzyme activity, 2 x 10(-7), 1 x 10(-6), 5 x 10(-6), and 8 x 10(-6) M, respectively); without preincubation, it was 10- to 500-fold less potent. In rats, a single oral dose of MDL 73945 administered simultaneously with 2 g/kg body wt sucrose resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the area under the 0- to 3-h glycemic response curve, which was significant at 1 (45% reduction) and 3 (65% reduction) mg/kg. When administered 1 h before sucrose, the compound was more potent, with 0.3 mg/kg MDL 73945 significantly reducing the glycemic response to sucrose by 62%. A reduction in the glycemic response to sucrose was accompanied by reduced insulin secretion. MDL 73945 was slightly less effective against a starch load, with 3 and 10 mg/kg MDL 73945 administered 0.5 h before starch reducing the glycemic response by 39 and 52%, respectively. MDL 73945 was more effective against a sucrose load in streptozocin-administered rats than in control rats and was as effective after 16 daily doses as after a single dose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1-(Thienylalkyl)imidazole-2(3H)-thiones as potent competitive inhibitors of dopamine beta-hydroxylase.

1-(2-Thienylalkyl)imidazole-2(3H)-thiones (5a-k) are competitive inhibitors of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and demonstrate the utility of thiophene in the design of potent competitive inhibitors of this enzyme. The structure-activity relationships for these compounds are discussed and compared with those of 1-phenylalkyl-imidazole-2(3H)-thiones (1). With the aid of molecular modeling, an idealized active-site conformer is proposed and an explanation for the difference in activity between the phenyl (1) and thienyl (5) DBH inhibitors is presented. The difference in activity is consistent with our proposal that thiophene may not always be a bioisostere for phenyl. The inhibitor of most interest, 1-[2-(2-thienyl)ethyl]imidazole-2(3H)-thione (5g), was selected for study in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. The changes in dopamine and norepinephrine levels that resulted from oral administration of 5g correlated with the reduction of blood pressure.

Synthesis and cardiotonic activity of novel biimidazoles.

A series of substituted 2,2'-bi-1H-imidazoles and related analogues was synthesized and evaluated for inotropic activity. Structure-activity relationship studies based on a nonclassical bioisosteric approach indicated the necessity of a cyano group on one of the imidazole rings to obtain the desired pharmacological profile. 4(5)-Cyano-2,2'-bi-1H-imidazole (15a) was the most potent inotropic agent in the series. It produced a 25% increase in left ventricular dP/dt at 0.16 mg/kg iv (ED25% = 0.16 mg/kg) and increased left ventricular contractile force 60% at 1 mg/kg iv in anesthetized dogs. Compound 15a is a good inhibitor of type IV cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isolated from dog heart having a potency similar to that of amrinone. Neither 5'-cyano-2,4'-bi-1H-imidazole (44) nor 4-cyano-2,4'-bi-1H-imidazole (48) demonstrated inotropic activity. In addition, the two possible 1,1'-dimethylcyano-2,2'-bi-1H-imidazoles (24 and 25) were inactive, indicating that an acidic NH as well as a cyano group are essential for inotropic activity.

Control of glomerular filtration rate: role of intrarenally formed angiotensin II.

This study was designed to investigate the role of intrarenally formed angiotensin II (ANG II) in controlling glomerular filtration rate (GFR) during reduction of renal artery pressure (RAP). The experimental design prevented renin released by the kidney from entering the systemic circulation and therefore prevented changes in circulating ANG II from influencing GFR control. In dogs with only a functional intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS), GFR and renal blood flow (RBF) were not significantly altered by RAP reduction to 70 mmHg. After blockade of intrarenal ANG II formation with SQ 14225, reduction of RAP to 70 mmHg decreased GFR and filtration fraction to 75.6 +/- 7.0 and 59.0 +/- 4.1% of control, respectively, while RBF remained at 129.3 +/- 8.8% of control. Calculated efferent arteriolar resistance decreased considerably more when RAP was reduced after SQ 14225, whereas preglomerular resistance decreased to about the same level as observed prior to SQ 14225 infusion. After return of endogenously produced ANG II by recirculation of the renal venous blood or after infusion of ANG II (following SQ 14225) at a rate that restored RBF to the control level (with RAP held at 70 mmHg in each case), GFR, filtration fraction, and calculated efferent resistance were restored to control levels, but preglomerular resistance did not change. These results suggest that intrarenal ANG II formation plays an important role in maintaining GFR during reductions in RAP by constricting efferent arterioles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Renal hemodynamic responses to increased renal venous pressure: role of angiotensin II.

Studies were performed to quantitate the effects of progressive increases in renal venous pressure (RVP) on renin secretion (RS) and renal hemodynamics. RVP was raised in 10 mmHg increments to 50 mmHg. Renin secretion rate increased modestly as RVP was increased to 30 mmHg and then increased sharply after RVP exceeded 30 mmHg. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal blood flow (RBF), and filtration fraction (FF) did not change significantly when RVP was elevated to 50 mmHg. GFR and RBF were also measured after the renin-angiotension system (RAS) was blocked with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI) SQ 14225. After a 60-min CEI infusion, RBF was elevated (32%), GFR was unchanged, FF was decreased, and total renal resistance (TRR) was decreased. As RVP was increased to 50 mmHg, GFR and FF decreased to 36.3 and 40.0% of control, respectively, RBF returned to a value not significantly different from control, and TRR decreased to 44.8% of control. The data indicate that the RAS plays an important role in preventing reductions in GFR during increased RVP because blockade of angiotensin II (ANG II) formation by the CEI results in marked decreases in GFR at high RVPs. The decreases in GFR after ANG II blockade and RVP elevation were not due to lack of renal vasodilation, since TRR was maintained below while RBF was maintained either above or at the pre-CEI levels.

Control of glomerular filtration rate by circulating angiotensin II.

Previous studies from our laboratory have provided evidence that the renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in controlling glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through an efferent arteriolar vasoconstrictor mechanism; however, the relative importance of circulating versus intrarenally formed angiotensin II (ANG II) in this control has not been determined. In the present study, the role of circulating ANG II in regulating GFR during reduced renal artery pressure (RAP) was examined in sodium-depleted dogs. After 90 min of infusion of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor SQ 14225, which presumably inhibited formation of both circulating and intrarenal ANG II, reduction of RAP to 81 +/- 2 mmHg resulted in marked decreases in GFR, filtration fraction (FF), and calculated efferent arteriolar resistance (RE), whereas renal blood flow (RBF) was maintained approximately 40% above initial control levels determined before SQ 14225 infusion. Replacement of circulating ANG II during SQ 14225 infusion, by intravenous infusion of ANG II at rates that decreased RBF to control levels, increased GFR, FF, and RE to levels not significantly different from control while RAP was maintained constant by aortic constriction. These observations suggest that circulating ANG II plays an important role in regulating RE and GFR during reductions in RAP. The importance of intrarenally formed ANG II in controlling GFR remains to be determined.

Blood pressure regulation: basic concepts.

In this paper we have attempted to explain the difference between proportional pressure control systems and the renal-blood volume-pressure control mechanism, which is an infinite gain pressure control system. Because of this infinite gain of the kidney mechanism, this mechanism has the capability of returning arterial pressure all the way back to the control leve. Furthermore, this mechanism can override the other pressure control mechanisms because of its extreme control capability. On the other hand, the renal-blood volume mechanism for pressure control itself be controlled by many other factors. These other factors are said to change the pressure "set-point" level of the renal system, and then the renal system automatically brings the pressure to the set-point level. It is especially noteworthy, however, that some of the factors that play extreme roles in short-term pressure control-such as heart strength, vascular capacity, and total peripheral resistance-will not alter the long-term arterial pressure level (unless they in some way concurrently alter the set-point of the kidney mechanism).

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system of the normothermic marmot.

Adrenal steroid secretion rates and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system were studied in the normothermic marmot. Adrenal secretion by the anesthetized, laparotomized marmot was (mean +/- SEM); aldosterone 1.2 +/- 0.3 ng/min, deoxycorticosterone 16.7 +/- 11.5 ng/min, corticosterone 15.2 +/- 7.8 ng/min, and cortisol 554 +/- 108 ng/min. Four forcings were investigated that affect feedback control at different sites: adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and angiotensin II (AII) infusion, sodium (Na) depletion, and Na loading. Plasma aldosterone, cortisol, Na, and potassium (K) concentrations as well as plasma renin activity (PRA) hematocrit (Hct), and in some studies, blood pressure were measured. ACTH infusion increased the plasma concentrations of aldosterone and cortisol. AII infusion increased aldosterone concentration, blood pressure, and Hct. Na depletion increased aldosterone, Hct, and PRA; plasma Na and K were decreased. Aldosterone concentration, Hct, and PRA decreased after salt loading. Normothermic, salt-depleted marmots demonstrated a pronounced fall in blood pressure following infusion of the AII analog, 1-sarcosine-8-alanine AII. The average plasma values for aldosterone, PRA, and cortisol found in 44 control animals were: aldosterone 3.8 +/- 0.3 ng/100 ml, PRA 1.9 +/- 0.2 ng AI-ml-1-h-1, and cortisol 54 +/- 4 ng/ml. It was concluded that normothermic marmots have a RAA system comparable to other mammalian species.