Discovery of VU0431316: a negative allosteric modulator of mGlu5 with activity in a mouse model of anxiety.

Development of SAR in an aryl ether series of mGlu5 NAMs leading to the identification of pyrazine analog VU0431316 is described in this Letter. VU0431316 is a potent and selective non-competitive antagonist of mGlu5 that binds at a known allosteric binding site. VU0431316 demonstrates an attractive DMPK profile, including moderate clearance and good bioavailability in rats. Intraperitoneal (IP) dosing of VU0431316 in a mouse marble burying model of anxiety, an assay known to be sensitive to mGlu5 antagonists and other anxiolytics, produced dose proportional effects.

Sex-specificity and estrogen-dependence of kappa opioid receptor-mediated antinociception and antihyperalgesia.

This investigation determined whether the activation of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) in the spinal cord produces estrogen-dependent, sex-specific modulation of acute and inflammation-induced persistent nociception. We demonstrate for the first time that KOR antinociception and gene expression are enhanced by exogenous or endogenous estrogen in the female. The lack of KOR antinociception and KOR gene expression are not altered by the hormonal status (testosterone or estrogen) in males. Cannulae were implanted intrathecally in male, gonadectomized male (GDX), intact and ovariectomized female (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats. Estradiol was injected subcutaneously, 48h before testing (GDX+E and OVX+E). Intrathecal injection of U50,488H, a selective KOR agonist, dose dependently increased heat-evoked tail flick latencies (TFLs) in proestrous and OVX+E groups, but not in male, GDX, GDX+E, OVX, and diestrous groups. Further, estrogen dose-dependently enhanced the effect of U50,488H in OVX rats. KOR selective antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine (Nor-BNI), blocked the antinociceptive effect of U50,488H. U50,488H reversed the carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia in OVX+E rats, but not in male or OVX rats. However, U50,488H treatment did not alter mechanical thresholds in any group, with or without inflammation. KOR gene expression was enhanced in proestrous and OVX+E groups as compared to any other group. We conclude that selective activation of KOR in the spinal cord produces sex-specific, stimulus- and estrogen-dependent attenuation of acute and inflammatory pain in the rat via estrogen-induced upregulation of the KOR gene expression in the spinal cord. These findings may further implicate estrogen dependence of KOR effects in learning, epilepsy, stress response, addiction etc.