The responsiveness of M2-muscarinic receptors in the posterior hypothalamus and brain stem of vasopressin hypertensive rats.

The response of an endogenous inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (type I inhibitor) to tremorine was used as an index of sensitivity of control muscarinic M2-receptors. Tremorine induced a dose-dependent increase in type I inhibitor activity in the posterior hypothalamus and brain stem. The action of the compound was blocked by pretreatment with aminophylline and atropine. Prolonged, 28 days treatment with lysine vasopressin (1 U/kg/day ip) induced hypertension and modified the dose-response curve for tremorine. Five times higher doses of tremorine than in normotensive rats were necessary to induce statistically significant increase in type I inhibitor activity in the posterior hypothalamus and brain stem suggesting subsensitivity of M2-muscarinic receptors in the brain areas responsible for the regulation of blood pressure.

[Pharmacological effects of the novel dopamine uptake inhibitor 1-[2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)-methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl) piperazine dihydrochloride (I-893) on the central nervous system].

The effects of 1-[2-[bis (4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3- phenylpropyl) piperazine dihydrochloride (I-893) on the central nervous system were behaviorally and electroencephalographically investigated. Intraperitoneally injected I-893 (5-10 mg/kg) dose-dependently increased spontaneous motor activity in mice, but repeated injections did not affect the increase in the locomotor activity. In reserpinized mice, spontaneous motor activity was not increased by oral I-893. In alpha-MPT-treated mice, the motor activity was lower than that in vehicle-treated animals with intermediate doses (10-40 mg/kg, p.o.) of I-893, but there was no difference between the two groups with high doses. In rats with unilaterally 6-OHDA-induced lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway, I-893 induced circling behavior toward the lesioned side. Haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats was reduced by I-893. Tremorine-induced tremor in mice was inhibited by I-893. The effect was not altered in the mice treated with I-893 for 10 days. Oral I-893 induced stereotypy in rats, but it did not affect methamphetamine-induced stereotypy. Hypnosis induced by barbiturates was antagonized by I-893. In rats treated with I-893 for 6 days, pentobarbital-induced sleep was not different from that in vehicle-treated animals on the day after the final treatment. Intravenous I-893 altered EEGs in the cerebral cortex and amygdala nucleus to low voltage and fast waves and altered hippocampal EEG to theta waves in immobilized rabbits. These results suggest that I-893 inhibits re-uptake of dopamine released by exocytosis and indirectly has dopaminergic effects.

General pharmacology of the novel angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril hydrochloride. Effects on central nervous and sensory systems and other functions.

The effects of benazepril hydrochloride (CGS 14824 A, CAS 86541-74-4), a novel angiotension I converting enzyme inhibitor, on the central nervous systems, were studied in experimental animals. Benazepril hydrochloride (3 or 10 mg/kg/d, p.o. for 14 days) dose-dependently inhibited the increase in the blood pressure caused by continuous norepinephrine (NE) infusion in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and suppressed in seizures induced by a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, tranylcypromine in NE infused SHR. Benazepril hydrochloride transiently increased spontaneous motor activity in mice, tended to inhibit acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and decreased fast wave sleep and slow wave deep sleep on EEG in cats at a high dose of 100 mg/kg p.o. However, benazepril hydrochloride at the same dose showed no effect on other central nervous and sensory systems in experimental animals.

Antagonism by naloxone of anti-tremorine effect of bromocriptine in mice.

Effects of the opioid antagonist naloxone (10 mg/kg) and its interaction with anticholinergic (scopolamine) and dopaminergic (bromocriptine) agents against tremorine-induced tremors was studied. Naloxone (10 mg/kg) per se gave significant protection and significantly potentiated the protective effect of scopolamine against tremorine-induced tremors at 5 min only. When naloxone and subeffective dose of bromocriptine (2 mg/kg) were administered simultaneously, instead of protection, an enhancement of tremorogenic activity was seen. Although the exact mechanism of this drug interaction is far from clear, a multireceptor involvement (i.e. opioid, dopaminergic and cholinergic type) in the modulation of tremorine-induced tremors in mice has been speculated.

The role of adrenergic mechanism in tremorine-induced tremors in rats: antitremor effect of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists.

Tranylcypromine (TCP) pretreatment was found to accelerate the tremorogenic activity of tremorine in rats. Conversely, reserpinization delayed the onset of induction of tremors, and a significant diminution in their intensity was observed in these rats. A comparative study of the antitremor activity of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists against this tremor-model showed that butoxamine (beta 2-antagonist) and propranolol (nonselective antagonist) were able to afford a rapid and powerful protection, whereas a weaker and delayed effect was observed in rats treated with the beta 1-antagonist, acebutolol. Furthermore, the antitremor activity of butoxamine and propranolol but not that of acebutolol was found to be potentiated and diminished in rats pretreated with reserpine and TCP, respectively. It was inferred that beta 2-receptor modulated the tremorogenic activity of tremorine, and that inhibition by propranolol or butoxamine of this subtype beta-adrenoceptor resulted in rapid and powerful suppression of tremors, and that the antiadrenergic activity of acebutolol was unlikely to have a role in its antitremor effect.

[Pharmacological properties of MO-8282, a novel antidepressant].

The pharmacological properties of MO-8282 (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-methyl-9H-dibenzo [3,4: 6,7]cyclohepta [1,2-c]pyridine maleate) as an antidepressant were investigated. At doses 10 times less than those of amitriptyline, MO-8282 showed similar potencies in reducing the duration of immobility during forced swimming in rats and in potentiating stereotype induced by L-DOPA. Intermediate doses of MO-8282 reduced the duration of immobility during forced swimming, in mice as well, suppressed muricide behavior of olfactory-bulbectomized rats and antagonized clonidine-induced suppression of exploratory activity in mice. MO-8282 moderately antagonized the ptosis but not the hypothermia induced by reserpine in mice. MO-8282 exhibited weak antagonism against the tremor, lacrimation and diarrhea induced by tremorine, but its activity was milder than that of amitriptyline. The uptake of noradrenaline into rat hypothalamic synaptosomes was inhibited by MO-8282 at concentrations 20 times less than equally effective doses of amitriptyline, but the uptake of dopamine or serotonin was unaffected by MO-8282. A single oral administration of MO-8282 at a dose of 30 mg/kg accelerated noradrenaline turnover, but did not affect dopamine and serotonin turnover in the rat brain. MO-8282 strongly inhibited noradrenaline-, histamine- or adenosine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity of guinea pig brain. Its mode of action differed from that of imipramine, rather resembling that of mianserin. MO-8282 did not affect monoamine oxidase activity of rat liver. These results suggest that the pharmacological characteristics of MO-8282 are different from those of tricyclic antidepressants and rather similar to those of mianserin, but more potent. The results, therefore, indicate that MO-8282 is possibly a novel antidepressant.

Parasympatholytic (anticholinergic) esters of the isomeric 2-tropanols. 2. Non-glycolates.

The 19 esters in Table I were prepared from (+)-2 alpha-tropanol, (-)-2 beta-tropanol, (+/-)-3-quinuclidinol, and a variety of non-glycolic acids in order to compare their central and peripheral activities with those of the glycolates reported in the previous paper. The results (Table II) showed that esters 6 and 17 were approximately equivalent to one another and to atropine, that 8 was equal in both central and peripheral activity to reference glycolates, that 9 and 19 were less active than 8 but 9 had a substantially reduced central activity, and that 10 and 11 were more active than the methoxy analogue reported earlier.

Synthesis and CNS activities of some 2-alkyl-3(2-substituted indol-3-yl)-methyl, 6-substituted-quinazolin-4(3H)-ones.

Nineteen title compounds (1-3, Fig. 1) have been synthesised by Mannich reaction of the corresponding 2,6-disubstituted-quinazolones, 2-substituted-indole and formaldehyde. Some of them have been found to be CNS stimulants while some others were CNS depressants. Compounds 2c and 2d have been found to possess good anticonvulsant activity in MES protection test at the dose level of 100 mg/kg.

Antagonism of KW-5338 (domperidone) against emesis and depression of intestinal motility induced by L-DOPA.

KW-5338 (domperidone), a new dopamine antagonist, is considered to be an agent to cross the blood-brain barrier with difficulty. The antagonistic activities of KW-5338 against L-DOPA were investigated, KW-5338 showed a strong anti-emetic action against L-DOPA induced emesis in beagle dogs (ED50=0.056 mg/kg (p.o.)) and restored the L-DOPA induced depression of intestinal motility to some extent, while it did not antagonize anti-tremorine activities of L-DOPA and trihexyphenidyl in mice. These results suggest that KW-5338 prevents side effects of L-DOPA such as nausea, vomiting and constipation, without reduction in therapeutic effects of L-DOPA in Parkinson's disease.

Modification of drug-induced catatonia and tremors by quapazine in rats and mice.

Administration of perphenazine, tremorine, nicotine and harmine induced Parkinson-like symptoms in rats and mice. The efficacy of quipazine, a serotonin agonist, in antagonizing these drug-induced Parkinsonian symptoms was assessed. Combinations of this drug with other antiparkinsonian agents such as scopolamine, diphenhydramine and amantadine were also studied in the manifestation of Parkinson-like symptoms in the animal models. The results indicate that quipazine, a central serotonergic agent, counteracted some of the drug-induced symptoms of pseudoparkinsonism in laboratory animals. Cholinergic, dopaminergic and histaminergic receptors play an important role in the manifestations of these symptoms.

[Pharmacological studies of 4-ethoxy-2-methyl-5-morpholino-3(2H)-pyridazinone (M73101). (5) Action of M73101 on the central nervous system (author's transl)].

M73101 decreased spontaneous locomotor activity in both mice and rats and prolonged sleeping time induced by hexobarbital in mice. There was no evidence of cataleptogenic action, anti-tremorine action and antagonistic effect on reserpine-induced hypothermia in mice. M73101 did not inhibit convulsions induced by maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazol but slightly inhibited the convulsion induced by strychnine in mice. Moreover, M73101 depressed only the monosynaptic action potential in intact and spinal cats, indicating that this compound exerts an inhibitory action on spinal function. On the EEG of rabbits, M73101 produced an arousal pattern in the spontaneous EEG and inhibited the recruiting response, but had no marked influence on the EEG arousal response, augmenting response and hippocampal afterdischarge. The arousal pattern in the spontaneous EEG induced by M73101 and the inhibitory action of this compound on the recruiting response were absent in the cerveau isolé preparation of the rabbit, indicating that M73101 may stimulate the brainstem reticular formation and that the inhibition of recruiting response may be related to the stimulatory effect. These properties of M73101 on the central nervous system are similar to those seen with aminopyrine though the potency was weaker. M73101 like aminopyrine showed no marked activity on the motor function.

Pharmacological studies on a new thymoleptic antidepressant, 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-5-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-indazole (FS-32).

Some pharmacological actions of 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-5-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-indazole (FS-32), a newly synthesized indazole derivative, were investigated in comparison with imipramine. FS-32 showed anti-reserpine activity in a dose-dependent manner, whereas imipramine exhibited a bell-shaped dose-response pattern. Catecholaminergic potentiation was demonstrated with FS-32. The results obtained from a norepinephrine potentiation test in vitro suggest that FS-32 may act in a manner qualitatively different from the tricyclic antidepressant. FS-32 produced a definite suppressive effect on isolation-induced fighting without affecting coordinated motor activity and on the duration of afterdischarge elicited by electrical stimulation to the amygdala or the hippocampus without producing a slow wave pattern in the EEG. Similar effects on fighting behavior and the afterdischarge were shown under imipramine with a slight motor incoordination and with a slow wave pattern, respectively. FS-32 produced practically no peripheral anti-cholinergic action, while it antagonized central cholinergic activity. FS-32 tended to produce an increase in chatecholamine content in the brain without MAO or COMT inhibitory activity. Norepinephrine uptake was inhibited by FS-32, but less than by imipramine. These pharmacological properties suggest a potential clinical utility of FS-32 as an antidepressant possessing thymoleptic activities.

The effect of antihistamine drugs on the neuroleptic-induced catalepsy.

The effect of atropine on the spiperone- or reserpine-induced catalepsy was compared with the effect pure antihistamines (chlorcyclizine, diphenhydramine, mepyramine) and antiserotonin -- antihistamine drugs (cyproheptadine, danitracen). All the drugs were used in equipotent doses in respect of their central cholinolytic action, assassed previously on the basis of the tremorine test. The potency of the antiserotonin action of chlorcyclizine, diphenhydramine and mepyramine was estimated by assessing the ID50 values of these compounds in the test based on antagonism to L-5-hydroxytryptophan action in the mouse. The spiperone-induced catelepsy, was most effectively inhibited by classical histaminolytics and less by drugs of a combined antiserotonin and antihistamine action. For the reserpine-induced catalepsy, differences in action of the two groups of drugs were less distinct. In both cases atropine produced the weakest anticataleptic effect. Amodiaquine, an inhibitor of histamine degradation, enhanced the catalepsy induced by either neuroleptic (the reserpine-induced catalepsy in a statistically significant menner). A possibility that the anticataleptic action of chlorcyclizine, cyproheptadine, diphenhydramine, mepyrymine and danitracen depends on the blockade of the histamine receptors in the brain is discussed.

Parasympatholytic (anticholinergic) esters of the isomeric 2-tropanols. 1. Glycolates.

The 38 esters in Table I were prepared from the four isomeric 2-tropanols and a variety of racemic glycolic acids and their optical isomers. Anticholinergic activity in mice was measured in the peripheral nervous system (mydriasis) and in the central nervous system (anti-tremorine) and compared with that of atropine, scopolamine, and racemic 2-quinuclidinyl benzilate. The results (Table III) showed that several esters (such as 8, 12, 14, and 21) had significantly greater activity in both the peripheral and central nervous systems than did the reference compounds. Esters of (+)-2alpha-tropanol were more potent than those of either its epimer (-)-2beta-tropanol or its optical isomer(-)-2alpha-tropanol. Esters derived from (-)-glycolic acids were uniformly more potent than those from the (+)-glycolic acids. Esters of (+)-2alpha-notropanol and five of its N-substituted derivatives had markedly decreased activity. Peripheral/central activity ratios and time-activity profiles for five active compounds are discussed and compared with those of the reference compounds.

Pharmacology of 9-gamma-methylaminopropyl-9,10-dihydro-9,10-methanoanthracene-HCl (ID-9206-HCl), a new potent antidepressant.

The pharmacological properties of 9-gamma-methylaminopropyl-9,10-dihydro-9,10-methanoanthracene-HCl (ID-9206-HCl) were examined in comparison with those of imipramine, amitriptyline and maprotiline in animals. ID-9206 showed the characteristic pharmacological profile of an antidepressent: anti-reserpine and anti-tetrabenazine activities, potentiation of central and peripheral actions of norepinephrine, and potentiation of methamphetamine and yohimbine actions. ID-9206 had weak peripheral anticholinergic activities and sedative effects. ID-9206 was less toxic in mice and rats than the other three antidepressants.

Some aspects of the neuropharmacology of phenylurea.

The neuropharmacology of phenylurea was studied. The compound is a potent sedative hypnotic agent with a fairly good margin of safety. It produced significant motor incoordination and behavioral changes in sub-sedative doses, thus suggesting that it acts on the areas of the brain which control motor coordination (neurological deficit) and spontaneous motor movements (awareness of environment). The activity pattern of phenylurea as measured on the rotarod treadmill was identical with that of an ataractic drug, meprobamate, and different from that of the sedative drug, 2-ethylcrotonylurea (ectylurea). It exhibited significant meprobamate-like antistrychnine (myorelaxant) activity, and at high doses only, anticonvulsant activity (pentetrazole antagonism). Phenylurea also protected mice against tremorine-induced tremors. A sub-sedative dose of phenylurea significantly prolonged pentobarbital sleeping time.