Potential histamine H2-receptor antagonists. 2. N-alpha-Guanylhistamine.

The agonist molecule, histamine, has been used as a starting point for the design of potential H2-receptor antagonists. Converting the side-chain amino group into a guanidine yielded the first histamine H2-receptor antagonist, Nalpha-guanylhistamine. Antagonism of H2 receptors was demonstrated by the inhibition of histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion in the rat at high dose levels (approximate ID50 800 MUmol/kg, iv) and by the inhibition of histamine-stimulated tachycardia of guinea-pig right atrium (pA2 equals 3.9). Guanylhistamine behaves as a partial agonist at histamine H2 receptors.

Chemical differentiation of histamine H1- and H2-receptor agonists.

Histamine exists predominantly as the NT-H tautomer of the monocation (IIa) at a physiological pH of 7.4 and structure-activity studies indicate that this tautomer is likely to be the pharmacologically active species for both H1 and H2 receptors. Effective H2-receptor agonists appear to require a prototropic tautomeric system whereas H1-receptor agonists do not need to be tautomeric. This identifies a chemical difference in the receptor requirements which provides the basis for obtaining selective histamine H1-receptor agonists. Thus 2-(2-aminoethyl)thiazole and 2-(2-aminoethyl)pyridine are nontautomeric and are highly selective agonists for histamine H1 receptors (H1:H2 ca. 90:1 and 30:1, respectively). In conjunction with the selective H2-receptor agonist, 4-methylhistamine, they are of great value for studying the pharmacology of histamine receptors.

Potential histamine H2-receptor antagonists. 3. Methylhistamines.

Syntheses are described for all the mono- and some di- and trimethylhistamines. New methods are given for the known Npi, Ntau-, Nalpha-, 2-, and 4-methylhistamines and for the novel compounds, beta-methyl-, 4,Nalpha-dimethyl-, and 4,Nalpha,Nalpha-trimethylhistamines. Agonist activities are reported for stimulation of histamine H1 (guinea-pig ileum) and H2 (rat gastric acid secretion) receptors. H2-Receptor agonist activities indicate that a methyl group is more readily accommodated at the 4 and Nalpha positions than elsewhere in the histamine molecule and that receptor binding is substantially retained with a methyl substituent in these positions. Thus, for the design of potential antagonists, two sites are identified as being worthwhile exploring for the introduction of lipophilic substituents.

Potential histamine H2-receptor antagonists. 4. Benzylhistamines.

As part of our studies aimed at designing histamine H2-receptor antagonists, the effect on histaminergic activity of introducing benzyl substituents at various positions in the histamine molecule is described. New synthetic methods are reported for the novel 4-benzyl-, beta-benzyl- and 4,N tau-dibenylhistamines and the reported 2-benzylhistamine. The novel N tau-benzylhistamine was synthesized by the versatile route reported by us for the synthesis of N tau-methylhistamine. These benzylhistamines, together with the reported N alpha- and N pi-benzylhistamines, were tested for agonist and antagonist activity at both H1 and H2 receptors. The results obtained indicate that introduction of a benzyl group into the histamine molecule causes a marked reduction in H1- or H2-agonist activity, and none of the compounds showed consistent antagonist activity. Evidently, the sterically demanding benzyl substituent is not easily accommodated in the agonist binding mode and is unable to locate a lipophilic receptor region for potential hydrophobic binding.

The histamine H2 receptor agonist impromidine: synthesis and structure-activity considerations.

Impromidine (1) is a potent and selective histamine H2 receptor agonist and its structure comprises a strongly basic guanidine group containing two different imidazole-containing side chains. In this paper we report the synthesis of analogues in which both of the side chains and the guanidine group are modified and tested as agonists or antagonists at histamine H2 receptors on guinea pig atrium. A protonated amidine group linked by a chain of three carbon atoms to a tautomeric imidazole ring appears to be an essential feature for agonist activity and it is suggested that the second imidazole-containing side chain in impromidine mainly contributes toward affinity for histamine H2 receptors.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of N-(2,5-disubstituted phenyl)-N'-(3-substituted phenyl)-N'-methylguanidines as N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor ion-channel blockers.

In the mammalian central nervous system, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subclass of glutamate receptors may play an important role in brain diseases such as stroke, brain or spinal cord trauma, epilepsy, and certain neurodegenerative diseases. Compounds which specifically antagonize the actions of the neurotransmitter glutamate at the NMDA receptor ion-channel site offer a novel approach to treating these disorders. CERESTAT (4, aptiganel CNS 1102) is currently undergoing clinical trial for the treatment of traumatic brain injury and stroke. Previously, we reported that analogues of N-1-naphthyl-N'-(3-ethylphenyl)-N'-methylguanidine (4) bound to the NMDA receptor ion-channel site with high potency and selectivity. Recently, molecules active at both sigma receptors and NMDA receptor sites were investigated. A series of substituted diphenylguanidines 6 which are structurally related to N-1-naphthyl-N'-(3-ethylphenyl)-N'-methylguanidine was prepared. Compounds containing appropriate substitution pattern in one of the phenyl rings of diphenylguanidines displayed high affinity. For example, N-(2,5-dibromophenyl)-N'-(3-ethylphenyl)-N'- methylguanidine (27b, R2 = R5 = Br, R3 = C2H5) exhibited potency at both sigma receptors and NMDA receptor sites; 27b also showed high efficacy in vivo in a neonatal rat excitotoxicity model. Further studies indicated that substituent effects were important in this compound series, and 2,5-disubstituted phenyl was the preferred substitution pattern for high-affinity binding at NMDA receptor sites. Bromo and methylthio were the optimal substituents for the R2 and R5 positions of the 2,5-disubstituted phenyl group, respectively. N-(2-Bromo-5-(methylthio)phenyl)-N'- (3-ethylphenyl)-N'-methylguanidine (34b, R2 = Br, R5 = SMe, R3 = C2H5) was highly active at NMDA receptor sites. We found that the binding affinity of guanidines of type 6 could be further enhanced with the appropriate substitution at R3. Optimal activity in this series are afforded by 43b and 44b (R2 = Cl or Br, R5 = R3 = SCH3). Both 43b and 44b bound to NMDA receptor sites with high potency and selectivity (Ki vs [3H]MK-801: 1.87 and 1.65 nM, respectively); these compounds are active in vivo in various animal models of neuroprotection. The structure--activity relationships for these compounds at the NMDA receptor ion-channel site are discussed.

Cyanoguanidine-thiourea equivalence in the development of the histamine H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine.

In the histamine H2-receptor antagonist metiamide (2a) isosteric replacement of thione sulfur (=S) by carbonyl oxygen (=O) or imino nitrogen (=NH) affords the urea 2c and guanidine 2d which are antagonists of decreased potency. The guanidine is very basic and at physiological pH is completely protonated. However, introduction of strongly electronegative substituents into the guanidine group reduces basicity and gives potent H2-receptor antagonists, viz. the cyanoguanidine 2b (cimetidine, "Tagamet") and nitroguanidine 2e. A correspondence between the activity of thioureas and cyanoguanidines is demonstrated for a series of structures 1-4. The close correspondence between cyanoguanidine and thiourea in many physicochemical properties and the pharmacological equivalence of these groups in H2-receptor antagonists leads to the description of cyanoguanidine and thiourea as bioisosteres. Acid hydrolysis of the cyanoguanidine 2b yields the carbamoylguanidine 2f at ambient temperatures and the guanidine 2d at elevated temperatures. Cimetidine is slightly more active than metiamide in vivo as an inhibitor of histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion and has clinical use in the treatment of peptic ulcer and associated gastrointestinal disorders.

Dipole moment in relation to H2 receptor histamine antagonist activity for cimetidine analogues.

The activities of a series of H2 receptor histamine antagonists structurally related to cimetidine (1) have been compared to investigate the effect of replacing the cyanoguanidine moiety by other neutral, dipolar groups. Antagonist activity, as measured in vitro on the histamine-stimulated guinea pig right atrium, was found to be very sensitive to relatively minor structural changes. Differences in H2 antagonist activity are accounted for by dipole moment orientation and lipophilicity and are rationalized in terms of an optimum requirement for alignment of a hydrogen-bonding moiety in the antagonist with respect to the receptor and desolvation effects at the receptor. The most active compound in the series is the 2-amino-3-nitropyrrole derivative 5, which combines a near-optimal dipole orientation with high lipophilicity.

Design, synthesis, and neurochemical evaluation of 2-amino-5-(alkoxycarbonyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridines and 2-amino-5-(alkoxycarbonyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidines as M1 muscarinic receptor agonists.

Four regioisomers of 2-amino-(methoxycarbonyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (2a-5a) were synthesized as the racemates to evaluate the utility of exocyclic amidines in the development of novel agonists for M1 muscarinic receptors. Of the four regioisomers, only racemic 2-amino-5-(methoxycarbonyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (4a; CDD-0075-A) displayed high affinity (IC50 = 10 +/- 3.0 microM) and activity at muscarinic receptors coupled to PI metabolism in the rat cortex (260 +/- 4.5% stimulation above basal levels at 100 microM). A series of 2-amino-5-(alkoxycarbonyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridines then was synthesized for further evaluation as M1 agonists. Only the propargyl derivative (4d) retained substantial agonist activity (120 +/- 14% at 100 microM) in this series. On the basis of the activity of the 5-(alkoxycarbonyl)-1,4,5,6- tetrahydropyrimidines (1a and 1d) and the 2-amino-5-(alkoxycarbonyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridines, the corresponding cyclic guanidine derivatives were synthesized and tested. 2-Amino-5-(methoxycarbonyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine (7a) displayed a modest affinity for muscarinic receptors in the CNS (22 +/- 5.3 microM) and an ability to stimulate PI turnover in rat cerebral cortex (81 +/- 16% at 100 microM). The propargyl derivative (7d) also had modest binding affinity (31 +/- 15 microM) and high activity (150 +/- 8.5% at 100 microM), as expected based on the activity of propargyl esters of 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine and 2-amino-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine. Computational chemical studies revealed five distinct minimum-energy conformations for 1a, (R)-4a, and 7a, and three for 1d, (R)-4d, and 7d, each with a unique orientation of the ester moiety. Each of the five conformations for 1a could be superimposed upon a unique conformer of (R)-4a and 7a, suggesting that the compounds interact with muscarinic receptors in a similar fashion. Taken together, the data indicate the general utility of amidine systems as suitable replacements for the ammonium group of acetylcholine in developing ligands with activity at M1 muscarinic receptors in the central nervous system. Such compounds might be useful in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of N,N'-diarylguanidines as potent sodium channel blockers and anticonvulsant agents.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships (SAR) are described for a series of N,N'-diarylguanidines related to N-acenaphth-5-yl-N'-(4-methoxynaphth-1-yl)guanidine (3) as anticonvulsants through blockade of sodium channels. SAR studies on compound 3 led to several simpler diphenylguanidines with improved in vitro and in vivo activity. Compounds were screened for blockade of sodium channels in a veratridine-induced [14C]guanidinium influx assay (type IIA sodium channels) and for anticonvulsant activity in the audiogenic DBA/2 mouse model. Results indicated that N, N'-diphenylguanidines substituted with flexible and moderate size lipophilic groups were preferred over aryl and/or hydrophilic groups for biological activity. Among the compounds studied, n-butyl- and/or n-butoxy-containing guanidines showed superior biological activity. A possible relationship between in vitro and in vivo activity of this compound series and their measured/calculated lipophilicities was investigated. Compounds of this series showed only weak NMDA ion channel-blocking activity indicating that the anticonvulsant activity of these compounds is unlikely to be mediated by NMDA ion channels but, more likely, by acting at voltage-gated sodium channels.

Design, synthesis, and neurochemical evaluation of 5-(3-alkyl-1,2,4- oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidines as M1 muscarinic receptor agonists.

A series of 5-(3-alkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidines+ ++ (7a-h) was synthesized for biological evaluation as selective agonists for M1 receptors coupled to phosphoinositide (PI) metabolism in the central nervous system. Each ligand bound with high affinity to muscarinic receptors from rat brain as measured by inhibition of [3H]-(R)-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-(R)-QNB) binding. 5-(3-Methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine+ ++ trifluoroacetate (CDD-0098-J;7a) displayed high affinity (IC50 = 2.7 +/- 0.69 microM) and efficacy at muscarinic receptors coupled to PI metabolism in the rat cortex and hippocampus. Increasing the length of the alkyl substituent increased affinity for muscarinic receptors yet decreased activity in PI turnover assays. The hippocampal PI response of 7a was blocked by lower concentrations of pirenzepine (8) or by higher concentrations of either AF-DX 116 (9) or p-fluorohexahydrosiladifenidol (10), suggesting that at low concentrations 7a selectively stimulates PI turnover through M1 receptors.

Design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of conformationally constrained analogues of N,N'-diaryl- and N-aryl-N-aralkylguanidines as potent inhibitors of neuronal Na+ channels.

In the present investigation, the rationale for the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of potent inhibitors of neuronal Na+ channels is described. N,N'-diaryl- and N-aryl-N-aralkylguanidine templates were locked in conformations mimicking the permissible conformations of the flexible diarylguanidinium ion (AS+, AA+, SS+). The resulting set of constrained guanidines termed "lockamers" (cyclophane, quinazoline, aminopyrimidazolines, aminoimidazolines, azocino- and tetrahydroquinolinocarboximidamides) was examined for neuronal Na+ channel blockade properties. Inhibition of [14C]guanidinium ion influx in CHO cells expressing type IIA Na+ channels showed that the aminopyrimidazoline 9b and aminoimidazoline 9d, compounds proposed to lock the N,N'-diarylguanidinium in an SS+ conformation, were the most potent Na+ channel blockers with IC50's of 0.06 microM, a value 17 times lower than that of the parent flexible compound 18d. The rest of the restricted analogues with 4-p-alkyl substituents retained potency with IC50 values ranging between 0.46 and 2.9 microM. Evaluation in a synaptosomal 45Ca2+ influx assay showed that 9b did not exhibit high selectivity for neuronal Na+ vs Ca2+ channels. The retention of significant neuronal Na+ blockade in all types of semirigid conformers gives evidence for a multiple mode of binding in this class of compounds and can possibly be attributed to a poor structural specificity of the site(s) of action. Compound 9b was also found to be the most active compound in vivo based on the high level of inhibition of seizures exhibited in the DBA/2 mouse model. The pKa value of 9b indicates that 9b binds to the channel in its protonated form, and log D vs pH measurements suggest that ion-pair partitioning contributes to membrane transport. This compound stands out as an interesting lead for further development of neurotherapeutic agents.

Neuroprotective use-dependent blockers of Na+ and Ca2+ channels controlling presynaptic release of glutamate.

We have originated a family of N,N'-disubstituted guanidines that block the voltage-activated Ca2+ and Na+ channels governing glutamate release. These compounds, CNS 1237 (N-acenaphthyl-N'-methoxynaphthyl guanidine) and its analogues, are "use dependent" in their ability to attenaute neurotransmitter release: they block glutamate release with greater efficacy under conditions of persistent or repetitive depolarization, as would be encountered under pathophysiological circumstances, relative to their ability to block glutamate release elicited by brief, transient depolarizations more characteristic of normal physiological release events in nonischemic brain. Using electrophysiological and rapid kinetic methods, we have differentiated the use-dependent block of the relevant Na+ and Ca2+ channels governing neurotransmitter release from the mechanism of channel antagonism exhibited by, respectively, the substituted guanidine Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) and venom peptide Ca2+ antagonists. To characterize use-dependent Na+ channel block by CNS 1237, we have employed whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line expressing cloned mammalian type II Na+ channels. These experiments demonstrated that, in contrast to the actions of TTX under the same conditions, the potency of Na+ channel block by CNS 1237 is greatly enhanced by depolarizing stimuli in a frequency-dependent manner. Ca2+ channel-activated glutamate release from brain nerve terminal preparations was measured with approximately 300 msec time resolution over a 5-second period of high K(+)-depolarization, using a rapid superfusion technique. CNS 1237 and analogues, at 1-3 microM, accelerated the decay of glutamate release by 40-70%, reflecting depolarization-induced enhancement of block. In contrast, blockade of glutamate release by the Ca2+ channel antagonist peptide toxins omega-aga IV-A (from spider venom) and omega-conotoxin M-VII-C (from cone snail venom) exhibited "reverse-use-dependence:" at concentrations of 0.3 microM, which blocked the initial amplitude of glutamate release by 40-60%, the decay time constant for glutamate release was significantly increased, indicating depolarization-induced relief of block. These findings establish that CNS 1237 and other members of this compound series are use-dependent blockers of the voltage-activated ion channels governing glutamate release. Studies of CNS 1237 in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) focal stroke model have indicated infarct size reduction comparable to that observed by the same investigators for the glutamate release blocker (BW 619C89 (Burroughs-Wellcome, now in clinical development). Maximal infarct size reduction is achieved with a 3-mg/kg bolus followed by a 4-hour infusion of 0.75 mg/kg/hr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Synthesis and binding characteristics of N-(1-naphthyl)-N'-(3-[(125)I]-iodophenyl)-N'-methylguanidine ([(125)I]-CNS 1261): a potential SPECT agent for imaging NMDA receptor activation.

N-(1-Naphthyl)-N'-(3-[(125)I]-iodophenyl)-N'-methylguanidine ([(125)I]-CNS 1261) was synthesized as a potential radioligand to image N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation. [(125)I]-CNS 1261 was prepared by radioiodination of N-(1-naphthyl)-N'-(3-tributylstannylphenyl)-N'-methylguanidine using Na(125)I and peracetic acid. [(125)I]-CNS 1261 uptake in vivo reflected NMDA receptor distribution in normal rat brain, whereas in ischemic rat brain, uptake was markedly increased in areas of NMDA receptor activation. Radiolabeled CNS 1261 appears to be a good candidate for further development as a single photon emission computed tomography tracer in the investigation of NMDA receptor activation in cerebral ischemia.

Structure-activity studies of pyridinylalkyl-isocytosine H1-receptor antihistamines and identification of an active conformation.

For a series of 2-(pyridin-2-ylbutylamino)-5-(3-picolinylmethyl)pyrimidin- 4(1H)-ones (isocytosines) substituted in the pyridine 3-position, activity as H1- and H2-receptor histamine antagonists appears to correlate with the size of the 3-substituent. Steric interaction between the substituent and the butyl chain is explored by conformational analysis using Molecular Mechanics and Molecular Orbital calculations on 2-propyl- and 2-propyl-3-methyl-pyridines; it appears that the substituent may alter activity by changing the preferred conformation of the drug. This observation is extended by synthesis of a semirigid bicyclic analogue wherein 3-methylpyridinylbutyl is replaced by tetrahydroquinolinylpropyl. This compound is 2-3 times more potent as an H1-receptor antagonist confirming that a trans/trans conformation favours activity. Although derived from an H2-antagonist structure, the compound is not an antagonist at histamine H2 receptors thus proving that the conformational requirements are different at H1 and H2 receptors.