Effect of fluorine substitution on the adrenergic properties of 3-(tert-butylamino)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenoxy)-2-propanol.

The 2- and 6-fluoro derivatives of the potent beta-adrenergic agonist 3-(tert-butylamino)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenoxy)-2-propanol were prepared and their adrenergic properties examined. The order of potency was as follows: beta-adrenergic activity (simulation of cyclic AMP formation in C6 glioma cells), 2-F = parent much greater than 6-F; beta 1-activity (rate of contraction, guinea pig atria), parent greater than 2-F much greater than 6-F; beta 2-activity (relaxation of guinea pig tracheal strip), 2-F greater than parent much greater than 6-F. The affinity of the 2-fluoro analogue for beta 1-adrenergic receptors (inhibition of the specific binding of [3H]dihydroalprenolol, rat cerebral cortical membranes) was 2 times greater, while the 6-fluoro analogue was 1450 times less than the parent. These results suggest that the aromatic rings of phenoxypropanolamine adrenergic agonists and phenylethanolamine adrenergic agonists bind in similar fashion to the adrenergic receptor, and that if interactions between fluorine and the side-chain hydroxyl group are critical in defining beta-adrenergic selectivity, the interactions are similar in both phenoxypropanolamines and phenylethanolamines.

Functional characterization of the A2b adenosine receptor in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.

The adenosine (ADO) receptor in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts was characterized using a series of adenosine agonists and selected xanthine and non-xanthine antagonists. The ADO receptor elicited accumulations of cyclic AMP in intact NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and caused activation of adenylate cyclase in membrane preparations. The receptor had characteristics of the A2b subtype of adenosine receptor. ADO analogs had relatively high EC50 values at the receptor and were antagonized competitively by xanthines. The rank order of potency for adenosine analogs in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts for cyclic AMP accumulation was: NECA > 2-ClADO > R-PIA >> CV1808, CGS 21680. The EC50 for 2-ClADO was 4.3 microM in intact cells and 15 microM in membrane preparations. All ADO analogs were more potent at the A2a receptor of pheochromocytoma PC12 membranes than at the A2b receptor of fibroblast NIH 3T3 membranes. Structure-activity relationships suggested that the regions of interaction with 5'- and N6-substituents of ADO were similar for both the PC12 A2a and NIH 3T3 A2b receptor. However, ADO analogs with large substituents in the 2'-position, such as 2-cyclohexylethoxy ADO and CGS 21680, were highly selective for the A2a receptor. All ADO analogs tested were stimulatory to adenylate cyclase at the NIH 3T3 A2b receptor, including 5'-methylthioADO, which was a weak partial agonist. A series of xanthine antagonists were not selective for the NIH 3T3 A2b versus the PC12 A2a receptor. In all cases, xanthines were more potent as antagonists in the intact NIH 3T3 cells than in NIH 3T3 membranes. In a series of non-xanthine antagonists, most compounds were equipotent or slightly more potent at the A2a receptor except for alloxazine, which was approximately 9-fold selective for the A2b receptor.

Activities of caffeine, theophylline, and enprofylline analogs as tracheal relaxants.

A variety of xanthines cause tracheal relaxation, an activity predictive of antiasthmatic potential. Structural analogs of caffeine, theophylline, and enprofylline were examined for their abilities to relax carbamylcholine-stimulated guinea pig trachea in vitro. All caffeine analogs tested were more potent than caffeine (EC50 = 551 +/- 81 microM) except the 8-p-sulfophenyl analog. 1,3,7-Tripropylxanthine and 1,3,7-tripropargylxanthine were among the more potent analogs with EC50 values of 12 +/- 1.3 and 65 +/- 11 microM respectively. Increasing the polarity at the 1- or 3-position by substituting a propargyl group for an n-propyl group decreased relaxant activity, an effect not observed at the 7-position. The 8-cyclohexyl-, 8-cyclopentyl- and 8-phenyl-derivatives of caffeine were relatively potent (EC 50 = approximately 75 microM). The theophylline analog 1,3-di-n-propylxanthine was approximately two times more active than theophylline (EC50 = 162 +/- 17 microM). 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (EC50 = 7.1 +/- 1.8 microM) and 1-isoamyl-3-isobutylxanthine (EC50 = 37 +/- 4.2 microM) were among the most potent tracheal relaxants. The 8-substituted theophylline analogs were weak or inactive relaxants except for 8-cyclopentyl- and 8-cyclohexyltheophylline, which were more potent or as potent as theophylline. In contrast to enprofylline (EC50 = 56 +/- 9 microM), 8-substituted enprofylline analogs were weak or inactive as relaxants with the exception of the 8-cyclohexyl analog. The potency of xanthines as tracheal relaxants was unrelated to potency as adenosine receptor antagonists and may reflect activity as phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

Laser treatment of endobronchial extramedullary plasmacytoma.

A 68-year-old man presented with an endobronchial lesion and was subsequently found to have a plasmacytoma. After systemic involvement with multiple myeloma was ruled out, a diagnosis of extramedullary plasmacytoma was made. The diagnosis and treatment of extramedullary plasmacytoma is discussed with specific attention to the new role of laser therapy in this disease.

Relaxant effects of adenosine analogs on guinea pig trachea in vitro: xanthine-sensitive and xanthine-insensitive mechanisms.

Adenosine analogs were tested for their ability to relax carbachol-contracted trachea in vitro. The rank order of potency was: 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) greater than 2-chloroadenosine (2-CIADO) greater than 5'-chloroadenosine = N6-R-1-phenyl-2-propyladenosine (R-PIA) greater than N6-cyclohexyladenosine greater than 2-phenylaminoadenosine (CV1808) greater than 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA). The rank order of potency for NECA, 2-CIADO and R-PIA is characteristic of an A2 subtype of adenosine receptor. 8-Para-sulfophenyltheophylline (8-p-ST) and 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), were used to antagonize tracheal relaxation elicited by adenosine analogs. 8-p-ST antagonized the 2-CIADO, N6-cyclohexyladenosine, R-PIA and 5'-chloroadenosine responses, but had little or no effect on the CV1808 and MTA responses. 8-p-ST antagonized responses to NECA at concentrations of NECA up to approximately 30 microM, but had no effect on responses to higher concentrations of NECA. The differences in antagonist potency of 8-p-ST and the clear biphasic response of NECA are indicative of at least two mechanisms of adenosine analog action leading to tracheal relaxation. One mechanism is mediated through a xanthine-sensitive site, at which NECA acted in a potent manner, whereas the other mechanism or mechanisms are insensitive to blockade by xanthines and account for the effects of action of MTA and CV1808, as well as for NECA at high concentrations. The low potency of the A1-selective antagonist DPCPX indicates that the xanthine-sensitive site is an A2 type receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Moebius syndrome in association with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

The association between hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and multiple CNS lesions in a variety of disorders suggests a possible causative link between these clinical findings. Neural afferent input into the hypothalamus from higher CNS centers modulates GnRH secretion and derangements of these neural pathways could potentially result in diminished gonadotropin secretion and hypogonadism. This report describes a patient with multiple CNS defects secondary to Moebius syndrome and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism whose clinical features support the hypothesis that his CNS and endocrine defects may be causally associated. Comprehensive clinical evaluation in this patient revealed severe mental retardation; cranial nerve palsies; motor, reflex, and gait disturbances; and sexual infantilism secondary to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. An MRI of the brain revealed atrophy or hypoplasia of the third cranial nerve and the olfactory gyri. Numerous syndromes including the Moebius syndrome are now described in which hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and CNS defects are associated. Detailed neuroanatomic and embryologic studies have demonstrated the important functional interrelationships between higher central nervous system centers and the hypothalamus. Taken together, these findings provide support for the causative association of multiple CNS defects and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.