The mGlu2/3 Receptor Agonists LY354740 and LY379268 Differentially Regulate Restraint-Stress-Induced Expression of c-Fos in Rat Cerebral Cortex.

Metabotropic glutamate 2/3 (mGlu2/3) receptors have emerged as potential therapeutic targets due to the ability of mGlu2/3 receptor agonists to modulate excitatory transmission at specific synapses. LY354740 and LY379268 are selective and potent mGlu2/3 receptor agonists that show both anxiolytic- and antipsychotic-like effects in animal models. We compared the efficacy of LY354740 and LY379268 in attenuating restraint-stress-induced expression of the immediate early gene c-Fos in the rat prelimbic (PrL) and infralimbic (IL) cortex. LY354740 (10 and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) showed statistically significant and dose-related attenuation of stress-induced increase in c-Fos expression, in the rat cortex. By contrast, LY379268 had no effect on restraint-stress-induced c-Fos upregulation (0.3-10 mg/kg, i.p.). Because both compounds inhibit serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR)-induced c-Fos expression, we hypothesize that LY354740 and LY379268 have different in vivo properties and that 5-HT2AR activation and restraint stress induce c-Fos through distinct mechanisms.

The selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, LY368975, reduces food consumption in animal models of feeding.

The compound, LY368975 ((R)-thionisoxetine) is a potent and selective inhibitor of the norepinephrine (NE) reuptake site. We evaluated the in vivo properties of LY368975 in various animal models. In mice, LY368975 prevented heart NE depletion by 6-hydroxydopamine with an ED50 of 1.22 mg/kg. In rats, orally administered LY368975 inhibited 3H-NE uptake into hypothalamic synaptosomes ex vivo with an ED50 of 2.5 mg/kg and 3H-tomoxetine binding to the NE transporter with an ED50 of 2.7 mg/kg. When rats were deprived of food for 18 hr, 10 mg/kg LY368975 was able to suppress food intake 1, 2 and 4 hr after reintroduction of the feed. In nonfasted rats trained to drink sweetened condensed milk, LY368975 produced a dose-dependent reduction in consumption with a 44% decrease at 3 mg/kg. At doses up to 10 mg/kg p.o., LY368975 produced no significant effects on locomotor activity suggesting the compound does not activate or sedate the animals at pharmacologically relevant doses. Therefore, LY368975 is an orally available and centrally active NE reuptake inhibitor that is capable of reducing food consumption in rodents. Compounds of this class may have use in the treatment of obesity and eating disorders.

Behavioral pharmacology of olanzapine: a novel antipsychotic drug.

BACKGROUND: In this paper, we review the behavioral pharmacology of olanzapine and compare it to its in vitro profile and to clozapine and a number of other antipsychotic agents, and we estimate the likelihood that olanzapine will be an effective and safe antipsychotic with fewer side effects. METHOD: Since there is no model of schizophrenia, per se, a battery of behavioral assays was used. RESULTS: Behavioral assays confirmed the in vitro results that olanzapine interacts with dopamine, serotonin, and muscarinic receptor subtypes. Moreover, olanzapine appears to have a clozapine-like atypical profile based on (1) mesolimbic selectivity, (2) blocking 5-HT receptors at a lower dose than dopamine receptors, and (3) inhibiting the conditioned avoidance response (indicative of antipsychotic efficacy) at doses that are lower than those required to induce catalepsy (indicative of extrapyramidal side effects). No only is this profile similar to that of clozapine, but olanzapine has other similarities: olanzapine substitutes for clozapine in a drug discrimination assay; like clozapine and unlike "typical" antipsychotics, olanzapine increases responding in a conflict procedure; and olanzapine, like clozapine, reverses changes induced by antagonists of the NMDA receptor. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these findings, we predict that olanzapine will be an efficacious antipsychotic, active against both positive and negative symptoms, while producing fewer extrapyramidal symptoms than existing treatments.

Anticonflict effects of 5HT(1A) agonists in pigeons are dependent on the level of response suppression.

Anxiety is a phenomenon that has many different manifestations. In order to test whether or not agents targeted to treat anxiety may have the properties necessary to treat differing types of anxiety, we have studied a 8-OH DPAT, buspirone, LY228729, chlordiazepoxide and pentobarbital on three different punished responding procedures in pigeons. Procedure one was a fairly standard multiple FR30 FR30 punished responding model where responding into he punished component was suppressed by electric shock to 7-10% of responding in the unpunished component. Procedure two was similar except that responding during the punished component was suppressed more severely to 1-3% of control, using increased levels of shock. Procedure three was a VI30 schedule as the unpunished component, with concomitant FR5 shock in a second component, and concomitant FR20 shock in the third component. 5HT(1A) agonists, 8-OH DPAT, buspirone and LY228729 produced the typical large increases in punished responding in procedure one, were substantially less effective when shock levels were increased in procedure two, and produced differential results which were likely due to the schedule in procedure three. The more traditional anxiolytics, chlordiazepoxide and pentobarbital, were consistently effective across all three punished responding procedures. These results would seem to indicate that 5HT(1A) agonists may not be as broadly efficacious as traditional anxiolytics, and that the state or severity of anxiety may be an important variable to predict efficacy for 5HT(1A) agonists.

Schedule-controlled behavioral effects of the selective 2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-hydroxyisoxazol-4-yl)propanoic acid antagonist LY293558 in pigeons.

Behavioral effects of the selective 2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-hydroxyisoxazol-4- yl)propanoic acid (AMPA) antagonist LY293558, along with its racemate (LY215490) and opposing enantiomer (LY293559) were evaluated in pigeons. When responding was maintained under a multiple fixed ratio 50 responses, fixed interval 5 minute (FRFI) schedule of food presentation, LY215490 completely antagonized the rate suppression induced by AMPA (10 mg/kg) and by the AMPA analog, 2-amino-3-hydroxy-5-tert-butyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (ATPA; 40 mg/kg) at 1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. In contrast, LY215490, up to 10 mg/kg, was unable to antagonize the rate suppression induced by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid. LY293558, at 0.32 mg/kg, completely blocked the rate suppression produced by AMPA in both components of the multiple schedule. Similarly, LY293558, at 0.64 mg/kg, blocked the rate suppression induced by ATPA in both components. In contrast, the opposing enantiomer, LY293559, up to 10 mg/kg, was without effect on rate suppression produced by AMPA in this model. In additional studies, behavior was maintained under a schedule in which responding was maintained by food presentation in the presence of one key color and in the presence of a second key color, responding was maintained by food and simultaneously suppressed by electric shock ("punished responding"). LY215490 significantly increased punished responding at 10 and 30 mg/kg, whereas unpunished responding was unaffected until 56 mg/kg depressed it. LY293558 significantly increased punished responding at 3 mg/kg without having an effect on unpunished responding. LY293559, on the other hand, was unable to significantly increase punished responding at doses up to 175 mg/kg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, increases rates of punished responding in pigeons.

The effects of olanzapine [LY 170053; 2-methyl-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-10H-thieno[2, 3b] [1,5]benzodiazepine), a potential atypical antipsychotic, were determined in pigeons whose keypeck responding was punished. These effects were compared to the anxiolytic agents chlordiazepoxide and pentobarbital, and to other antipsychotic agents. Keypeck behavior was maintained under a multiple FR30 FR30 schedule, signalled by white and red stimulus lights, respectively. Each component of the schedule alternated every 3 min with a 30-s timeout. During the white keylight component, responding was maintained by food presentation. During the red keylight component, responding was maintained by food and simultaneously suppressed by electric shock presentation, with response rates being only about 5% of those during the white stimulus light. Olanzapine (0.01-1.0 mg/kg) increased punished responding at doses below those which had an effect on unpunished responding. Clozapine (0.01-1.0 mg/kg), ritanserin (0.1-3.0 mg/kg), and, to a lesser extent, risperidone (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) were also effective at increasing punished responding. Generally, the maximum effect seen with olanzapine was equal to that seen with ritanserin, and it exceeded that seen with clozapine. However, these effects were generally less than those seen with chlordiazepoxide and pentobarbital. Haloperidol (0.01-0.1 mg/kg) was completely without effect on punished responding, while it caused decreases in unpunished behavior. These results provide further evidence that olanzapine has a profile in behavioral tests unlike the typical antipsychotic haloperidol. Moreover, this profile is similar to clozapine, a clinically effective antipsychotic with an atypical profile.

Preclinical studies on LY228729: a potent and selective serotonin1A agonist.

LY228729 is a conformationally restricted tryptamine derivative with a carboxamide serving as a protophilic group to mimic the hydroxyl in serotonin (5-HT). LY228729 has high affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor, weak affinity for the 5-HT1D receptor and no significant affinity for other monoaminergic receptors studied. LY228729 was less effective than 5-carboxamidotrytamine in suppressing K(+)-evoked release of 3H-5-HT from parietal-occipital cortical slices from guinea pigs, which is in agreement with its weak 5-HT1D receptor affinity. LY228729 reduced hypothalamic 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid levels and increased serum corticosterone levels in rats. LY228729 reduced hypothalamic 5-hydroxytryptophan accumulation after decarboxylase inhibition. LY228729 increased flat posture and lower lip retraction scores in rats at doses between 0.1 and 1 mg/kg s.c. (p.o. doses were 10 times higher) and these effects were blocked by (+/-) pindolol. LY228729 induced a hypothermic response in rats, which was blocked by (+/-) pindolol. These in vivo responses are characteristics of compounds with 5-HT1A agonist activity. In the preclinical efficacy models, LY228729 suppressed motion sickness responses in cats; decreased ejaculatory latency and the increased copulatory efficiency and rate in rats and increased punished responding at lower doses than it lowered unpunished responding in rats. Collectively, these results indicate that LY228729 is potent 5-HT1A agonist with bioavailability properties sufficient for clinical evaluation and with efficacy in preclinical models of anxiety, sexual disorders and motion sickness. Since the 5-HT1A agonists that have been studied previously have antidepressant activity, this indication will also be evaluated.

Antidepressant-like effect of LY228729 as measured in the rodent forced swim paradigm.

The novel 5-HT1A receptor agonist, LY228729, was tested to see if it would produce antidepressant-like behavioural effects in the rodent forced swim model. The tricyclic antidepressant, imipramine, as well as the 5-HT1A receptor agonists, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and gepirone, produced dose-related decreases in immobility in the forced swim test following subchronic treatment in rats. LY228729, when given over a three injection course, as with the other compounds, significantly reduced immobility at doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg. Subsequent analysis of locomotor activity revealed no increases in behavior, so that general changes in activity could not account for the reduction in immobility time in the forced swim. These results suggest that LY228729 may have clinical antidepressant efficacy.

An in vivo alpha-2 assay reversal of opioid-induced muscular rigidity and neuroleptic-induced ptosis.

A method is described to detect selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonists in vivo. Palpebral ptosis is induced in rats by the neuroleptic agent haloperidol (Hal), or by tetrabenazine (TBZ) methanesulfonate. Twenty minutes later, test compounds are injected, and ptosis is scored. In a separate test, muscular rigidity is induced by the opioid, fentanyl, and subsequently, test compounds are assessed for their ability to reverse muscular rigidity. Results indicate that only alpha-2 agonists reliably reverse neuroleptic-induced and TBZ-induced ptosis, as well as opioid-induced rigidity. An alpha-1 antagonist reversed only rigidity, whereas, alpha-2 antagonists and beta-agonists were generally ineffective in all tests. Therefore, the ability to reverse neuroleptic and TBZ-induced ptosis along with the ability to reverse opioid-induced muscular rigidity is a characteristic unique to alpha-2 agonists.

New 1-(heterocyclylalkyl)-4-(propionanilido)-4-piperidinyl methyl ester and methylene methyl ether analgesics.

A series of new 1-(heterocyclyalkyl)-4-(propionanilido)-4-piperidinyl methyl esters and methylene methyl ethers have been synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated. In the mouse hot-plate test, the majority of compounds exhibited an analgesia (ED50 less than 1 mg/kg) superior to that of morphine. These studies revealed a pharmacological accommodation for many more structurally diverse and far bulkier aromatic ring systems than the corresponding components of the arylethyl groups of the prototypic methyl ester (carfentanil, 2) and methylene methyl ether (sufentanil, 3 and alfentanil, 4) 4-propionanilido analgesics. Compound 9A (methyl 1-[2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-ethyl]-4-[(1-oxopropyl)phenylamino]-4- piperidinecarboxylate), which exhibited appreciable mu-opioid receptor affinity, was a more potent and short-acting analgesic, than alfentanil with less respiratory depression in the rat. On the other hand, the phthalimides 57A and 57B, which exhibited negligible affinity for opioid receptors associated with the mediation of nociceptive transmission (i.e., mu-, kappa-, and delta-subtypes), displayed analgesic efficacy in all antinociception tests. In addition, while 57B, compared to clinical opioids, showed a superior recovery of motor coordination after regaining of righting reflex from full anesthetic doses in the rat rotorod test, 57A showed significantly less depression of cardiovascular function at supraanalgesic doses in the isoflurane-anesthetized rat.

The discriminative stimulus effect of MK-801 in ketamine-trained rats.

MK-801 [(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(a,d)cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate] was assessed for its discriminative stimulus properties in rats trained to discriminate ketamine (7 mg/kg) from vehicle. MK-801 generalized to ketamine in a dose dependent manner with a maximum effect at 0.2 mg/kg, while ketamine generalized fully at 10 mg/kg. These results indicate that ketamine and MK-801 may share a common mechanism of action, which is related to the phencyclidine recognition site in the brain.

4-Phenyl- and 4-heteroaryl-4-anilidopiperidines. A novel class of analgesic and anesthetic agents.

The incorporation of the 4-phenylpiperidine pharmacophore found in morphine into 4-anilidopiperidines related to fentanyl (1) led to a novel class of potent opioid analgesic and anesthetic agents with a favorable pharmacological profile. The synthesis, analgesic activity, and anesthetic properties of a series of 4-phenyl-4-anilidopiperidines (13-29) are discussed. Isosteric replacement of the phenyl by various heteroaryl substituents extended the series to include 4-heteroaryl-4-anilidopiperidines (30-53). Within this group, 1-[2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl]-4-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-4-(N- phenylpropionamido)piperidine (48), exhibited high analgesic potency, short duration of action, rapid recovery of motor coordination following anesthetic doses, and greater cardiovascular and respiratory safety during anesthesia as compared with opioids fentanyl (1) and alfentanil (2) currently in clinical use. Such analgesics could be of great utility to clinicians in the expanding outpatient surgical arena and for patient-controlled analgesia and computer assisted continuous infusion pain control techniques.

Amnesic effect of the novel anticonvulsant MK-801.

MK-801, a reported N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist with affinity for the phencyclidine (PCP) receptor, injected intravenously in mice before a training trial in a passive avoidance procedure, produced a similar amnesic effect to that produced by the standard amnesic agent scopolamine. Compared to vehicle-treated mice, each drug produced significant amnesia, yet the potency of MK-801 was 40 times that of scopolamine. This result with the MK-801 is consistent with previous reports that drugs which act at PCP recognition sites within the brain produce memory impairing effects in rodents.

Reversal of opioid-induced muscular rigidity in rats: evidence for alpha-2 adrenergic involvement.

Compounds from several different pharmacological classes were tested for their ability to reverse the muscular rigidity induced by an intravenous dose of fentanyl that also caused loss of the righting reflex (LOR). Opioid antagonists reversed the entire syndrome--LOR and rigidity but, generally, rigidity could be reversed nonspecifically by doses of compounds that caused LOR by themselves (e.g., CNS depressants). Muscle relaxants and agonists of histamine, which appeared to be acting peripherally, were also effective. On the other hand, serotonergic drugs and dopamine agonists were not. However, dopaminergic antagonists with adrenolytic activity (i.e., chlorpromazine, haloperidol) reversed rigidity, whereas sulpiride did not. Moreover, rigidity reversed by neuroleptics could be restored by piperoxane, an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist. In addition, clonidine and other alpha-2 agonists selectively reversed only rigidity following systemic or central administration at doses several orders of magnitude lower than other compounds tested. It is proposed that opioid-induced rigidity is reversed by inhibition of sympathoadrenal outflow which can be accomplished selectively, centrally, by alpha-2 agonists.