19-Hydroxylation and aromatization of androgens in the developing rat brain.

Androgen aromatization in the human placenta proceeds through two successive hydroxylations at C-19, the products of which are then virtually completely converted to estrogens. In the neonatal rat brain, however, 19-hydroxylation has been shown to exceed significantly subsequent aromatization, suggesting that formation of 19-hydroxylated androgen metabolites might be important in brain differentiation in this species. Using [19-3H3]androstenedione, we found that the surplus activity of 19-hydroxylase relative to aromatase was independent of age, sex, and androgen substrate concentration, despite 100-fold differences in tissue aromatase activity during the course of development. In addition, the surplus 19-hydroxylation was not affected by several agents which otherwise decreased or increased the activity of the aromatase enzyme, including metyrapone, KCN, and cytochrome P-450 reductase, the latter indicating that the failure of the 19-hydroxylated products to proceed to aromatization was not due to a deficit of reducing equivalents. 19-Hydroxylation of androgens in the rat brain is a quantitatively significant metabolic pathway in this tissue, although present data do not confirm the existence of a steroid C-19 hydroxylase in the brain separate from that involved in aromatization.

Catechol estrogen formation and metabolism in brain tissue: comparison of tritium release from different positions in ring A of the steroid.

Catechol estrogens labeled with 3H at different positions in rings A and B of the steroid were synthesized by chemical or enzymatic methods, and their oxidative transformation by male rat brain microsomes was followed by the transfer of 3H into 3H2O. This reaction was shown to occur more readily with the catechol estrogens than with the parent steroid and was also influenced by the position of the radiolabel. Tritium was displaced less readily from C-1 than from C-2 or C-4 of the aromatic ring. Spermine, which is known to increase cytochrome P-450-mediated hydroxylation reactions, had no effect on the release of 3H from ring A of either estradiol or 2-hydroxyestradiol with rat brain microsomes in contrast to liver. Glutathione and other thiols were able to cause a rapid loss of 3H from labeled catechol estrogens, even in the absence of tissue, but in double label experiments with [4-3H]- and [4-14C]2-hydroxyestradiol, the isotope ratio in the recovered catechol estrogen was unchanged. The results illustrate some of the problems in determining accurately the metabolism of estrogens by measuring 3H2O formation when aromatic hydroxylation is involved and also highlight the possible interaction of the catechol estrogens with cellular nucleophiles such as glutathione.

Comparison of effects of chronic administration of naloxone and naloxonazine upon food intake and maintainance of body weight in rats.

A comparison of the effects of the short-acting opioid antagonist naloxone, with the irreversible and highly-specific mu-1 antagonist naloxonazine, has categorized the mediation of opioids in some forms of feeding into mu-1 and non-mu-1 components. The mu-1 sites have been implicated in free-feeding, deprivation-induced feeding and morphine-induced hyperphagia, based upon their sensitivity to both naloxone and naloxonazine. However, the ability of naloxone, but not naloxonazine to inhibit feeding, induced by either 2-deoxy-D-glucose glucoprivation, ethylketocyclazocine, dynorphin or (D-ala2., D-leu5.)-enkephalin implies the existence of non-mu-1 opioid receptor mechanisms in these responses. The present study compared the effects of the daily administration of naloxone and naloxonazine (10 mg/kg, i.v.) in rats in three different types of maturational or dietary situations. In adult rats, naloxonazine and naloxone significantly reduced body weight (7% and 4%, respectively) and food intake (21% and 13%, respectively) over 14 days. These effects were more pronounced in adolescent rats where naloxonazine and naloxone significantly reduced the gain in body-weight (53% and 33%, respectively) and food intake (24% and 15%, respectively) over 14 days. In the adolescent rats, the effects of naloxonazine were significantly greater than those of naloxone. In contrast, chronic treatment with neither naloxone nor naloxonazine altered body weight or food intake of rats made obese by dietary manipulations and left on that diet during treatment with antagonist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Long-acting opiate agonists and antagonists: 14-hydroxydihydromorphinone hydrazones.

Two new long-acting hydrazone derivatives of 14-hydroxydihydromorphinones have been synthesized, oxymorphazone and naltrexazone. Both derivatives show high affinity for opiate binding sites in vitro, similar to naloxazone, the hydrazone analogue of naloxone. Sodium and manganese shifts imply that naltrexazone, like naloxazone, is a pure antagonist. By contrast, oxymorphazone inhibition of receptor binding is dramatically reduced by sodium and potentiated by manganese, suggesting it is an agonist. When given in vivo, all agents produce a significant inhibition of receptor binding for over 24 h despite extensive washing of the brain homogenates. Oxymorphone, naltrexone, and naloxone are without effect. Twenty-four hours after in vivo administration of oxymorphazone, 82% of mice are still analgetic compared to only 17% of oxymorphone-treated mice (p less than 0.005). Twenty-four hours after naltexazone or naloxazone treatment all mice were protected from morphine analgesia (12 mg/kg; p less than 0.005), while naltrexone- and naloxone-treated animals did not differ significantly from saline-treated controls.

Narcotic antagonists. 4. Carbon-6 derivatives of N-substituted noroxymorphones as narcotic antagonists.

A series of new narcotic antagonists has been synthesized by modifying the C-6 carbonyl group in naloxone (Ia) and naltrexone (Ib). New functional units were introduced by reaction with various phosphorus and sulfur ylides and alkyllithium reagents. The activity of the new compounds were measured by the hot-plate and tail-clip tests after oral administration to mice. The majority of the new narcotic antagonists exhibited oral potencies considerably superior to the parent compounds, with 6-methylene derivatives IIa and IIb showing the most impressive increases.

X-ray crystal structure of the opioid ligand naltrexonazine.

The anti-anti isomer of naltrexonazine (1) was synthesized, and its configuration was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The syn-anti isomer is readily converted to 1 under acidic conditions. The apparent equal receptor binding of 1 and syn-anti isomer indicates that isomerization of the azine moiety may take place under the conditions of biological evaluation. Two possible explanations for wash-resistant binding of 1 to opioid receptors are presented. The first possibility involves a noncovalent interaction of the ligand with the opioid receptor, and the second considers covalent binding by a receptor-based sulfhydryl group.

Nucleotide dimers suppress HIV expression in vitro.

A series of nucleotide homo- and heterodimers [3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidilyl-(5',5')-2',3'-di-deoxy-5' adenylic acid (AZT-P-ddA), 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidilyl-(5',5')-2', 3'-dideoxy;-5'-adenylic acid, 2-cyanoethyl ester [AZT-P(CyE)-ddA], 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidilyl-(5',5')-2',3'-dideoxy-5'-inosinic acid (AZT-P-ddI), and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidilyl-(5',5')-3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-thymid ilic acid (AZT-P-AZT)] were synthesized and compared with respect to their anti-HIV and cytotoxic properties to their component monomers in vitro. MT-2 cells were infected with HIV (TM) followed by the addition of drug. The dimers and their respective monomers inhibited HIV-induced syncytia formation, reverse transcriptase production, and the expression of HIV p24 antigen. However, on an equimolar basis, greater anti-HIV potency and enhanced cytotherapeutic indices were observed with the heterodimers when compared with their monomers. Nucleotide dimers, such as AZT-P-ddA, should be actively considered for further evaluation as anti-HIV agents.

Differential sensitivity of opioid-induced feeding to naloxone and naloxonazine.

The high-affinity mu-1 opioid binding site has been implicated in some opioid responses (e.g., supraspinal analgesia) but not others (e.g., respiratory depression) by comparing the actions of naloxone, a short-acting, non-selective antagonist, and naloxonazine, an irreversible and selective mu-1 antagonist. The mu-1 site has been implicated in the opioid component modulating free feeding and deprivation-induced feeding, but not glucoprivic feeding. The present study compared naloxone and naloxonazine antagonism of hyperphagia induced by morphine, ethylketocyclazocine (EKC), dynorphin and d-ala2,d-leu5-enkephalin (DADL) in rats. Morphine produced a dose-dependent (0.01-5 mg/kg) hyperphagia in mildly food-deprived rats that was blocked by naloxone (0.01-10 mg/kg). Naloxonazine (10 mg/kg) shifted the morphine hyperphagia dose-response curve to the right. These effects could not be fully accounted for by the intrinsic hypophagic properties of these antagonists. EKC produced a dose-dependent (0.5-5 mg/kg) hyperphagia which was blocked by naloxone (10 mg/kg) only at low effective EKC doses. Naloxonazine (10 mg/kg) failed to affect EKC hyperphagia. Naloxone, but not naloxonazine also blocked dynorphin and DADL hyperphagia. These results indicate that feeding induced by opiate and opioid agonists are differentially mediated by the mu-1 and other opioid binding sites; these data contrast with the modulation by the mu-1 site of the supraspinal analgesia induced by each of these agonists.

Naloxonazine, a potent, long-lasting inhibitor of opiate binding sites.

Naloxazone, the hydrazone derivative of naloxone, has proven useful in studies of opiate binding site heterogeneity both in vivo and in vitro based on its long-acting inhibition of high affinity, or mu1, binding sites. However, the need for high doses of naloxazone to inactivated the mu1 sites raised the possibility that its actions might result from lower concentrations of a more active compound. We now present evidence suggesting that this more active compound is the azine derivative of naloxone. In acidic solutions, approximately 35% of naloxazone, spontaneously rearranges to the azine, naloxonazine. Unlike naloxazone, naloxonazine is relatively stable in solution. It does not appreciably dissociate into naloxone and naloxazone and no additional compounds can be detected. Under assay conditions under which no azine formation can be detected, no inhibition of binding of either 3H-dihydromorphine or 3H-DADL is found after incubating tissue with naloxazone at concentrations up to 2000 nM followed by extensive washing. Naloxonazine, on the other hand, produces a potent, dose-dependent inhibition of binding which is resistant to washing. Despite the washes, naloxonazine at 50 nm abolishes high affinity binding with some inhibition seen at concentrations down to 10 nM.

Irreversible opiate agonists and antagonists: V. Hydrazone and acylhydrazone derivatives of naltrexone.

We have synthesized a series of hydrazones and acylhydrazones of naltrexone. These substitutions had modest effects on competition of mu binding but many greatly enhanced the relative potency of the compounds for delta receptors. Increased delta affinity was most prominent with the acylhydrazones. Many of the derivatives elicited a wash-resistant inhibition of binding which was restricted to mu, not delta, binding sites. This wash-resistant inhibition of binding did not correlate with affinity, as determined by IC50 values, implying that the inhibition could not be explained simply by slow rate of dissociation due to increased affinity.

Oxymorphone-naltrexonazine, a mixed opiate agonist-antagonist.

Previous studies from our laboratories have reported the synthesis and pharmacological characteristics of a series of symmetrical opiate azines: naloxonazine, oxymorphonazine and naltrexonazine. We have now synthesized and characterized in binding assays and in vivo two asymmetrical azines: oxymorphone-naltrexonazine and oxymorphone-3-methoxynaltrexonazine. Oxymorphone-naltrexonazine, which theoretically could interact with the receptor as either an agonist or antagonist, displayed antagonist properties in vitro and in vivo. Oxymorphone-3-methoxynaltrexonazine, which theoretically could bind only as an agonist, possessed agonist properties in binding studies and was a potent analgesic in vivo.

Unexpected effects of nalmefene, a new opiate antagonist, on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in the male rat.

In order to gain additional information on the role of brain opioid peptides in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, we studied the effects of nalmefene, a new opiate antagonist, on gonadotropin and testosterone secretion in male rats. The results were compared with those obtained with naloxone, a well-studied antagonist. Acute injections of either nalmefene or naloxone (2 mg/kg) produced 4-fold increases in LH and testosterone secretion. In castrated male rats treated with testosterone propionate (TP), nalmefene (10 mg/kg) reversed the androgen negative feedback on LH secretion; surprisingly, when higher doses (25 and 50 mg/kg) were injected, the compound lost its ability to antagonize the testosterone-induced inhibition of LH levels. In contrast, naloxone was able to increase LH levels in TP-treated castrated rats even at the highest dose tested (50 mg/kg). Chronic administration of these antagonists resulted in suppression of the acute release of LH and T secretion in nalmefene-treated but not in naloxone-injected animals. These data are consistent with previous observations suggesting that opioid peptides a) exert a tonic inhibitory effect on LH and testosterone production and b) participate in the negative androgen-induced feedback control of LH secretion. Our results also show that the antagonistic action of nalmefene, but not naloxone, is reversed when higher doses are used or following chronic administration.

Testing and evaluation of opiate analgesics and antagonists.

In recent years many advances have been made in our understanding of how opiates function as modulators of pain. These discoveries have in turn led to substantial improvements in the methodology available for the testing of newly synthesized opiates. Preliminary in vitro assays can now define opiate receptor selectivity and also classify a drug as a pure or mixed agonist-antagonist. These results can then be verified by in vivo behavioral or neurochemical studies using laboratory animals. This protocol, which involves tests that are relatively simple and inexpensive to conduct, yields reproducible results which provide insight into the study design required for the clinical evaluation of the new agents. Considering the complexity of the problem involved in modifying the pharmacological profile of an opiate, the progress that has been made in the methodology for evaluating these substances is commendable.

Effect of sodium chloride on opiate receptor binding in spontaneously hypertensive rats: dependence on age.

The effect of 100 mM sodium chloride on the binding of [3H]-naltrexone to rat brain opiate receptors in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive (WKY) rats was studied. The percentage increase in binding in the presence of sodium chloride did not vary with age in WKY rats. Brain homogenates from 4 week old SHR rats incubated with 100 mM sodium chloride exhibited a similar increase in binding compared to age matched WKY rats. In contrast, brain preparations from 6, 14 and 20 week old SHR rats were more sensitive to sodium chloride, and the increase in binding of [3H]-naltrexone was significantly greater in these animals than in corresponding normotensive ones. Since blood pressure is increased in SHR rats compared to WKY rats at these ages, these results suggest that elevated blood pressure may be correlated with an increase in opiate receptor sensitivity to sodium chloride. The effect of in vivo sodium chloride was examined by feeding the animals a diet containing 4% salt. This concentration of salt did not significantly alter the binding of [3H]-naltrexone to rat brain homogenates prepared from 8 week old SHR rats. These results suggest that higher levels of sodium chloride and longer exposure to the diet may be required to observe the salt sensitivity produced by 100 mM salt in the in vitro radioreceptor assay.