Opportunities for Cellular Rejuvenation in Alzheimer's Disease: How Epigenetic Reprogramming and Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy Are Enabling Next Generation Therapeutic Approaches.

Age remains the largest risk factor in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Numerous cellular hallmarks of aging contribute to the advancement of the pathologies associated with neurodegenerative disease. Not all cellular hallmarks of aging are independent and several fall into the broader category of cellular rejuvenation, which captures returning cells to a more youthful, improved functional state. Cellular rejuvenation is quickly becoming a hot topic in the development of novel therapeutic modalities for a range of diseases. Therapeutic approaches utilizing cellular rejuvenation technologies are rapidly advancing and will represent the next phase of AD therapeutics. This review focuses on two important processes, epigenetic reprogramming, and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) that play a critical role in aging and in neurodegenerative diseases and the potential therapeutic approaches (gene therapy, small molecule) towards targeting these mechanisms. In aging and in AD, epigenetic changes on DNA (e.g., hypermethylation on CpG islands) lead to alterations in gene expression. Partial epigenetic reprogramming utilizes transcription factors to remove the epigenetic marks and to rejuvenate cells to a more youthful state. During aging and in neurodegenerative disorders, CMA becomes impaired resulting in a buildup of proteins known to be associated with neurodegenerative pathologies. The protein buildups lead to aggregates that preclude proteostasis leading to cell toxicity. Small-molecule CMA activators restore proteostasis and limit toxicity enabling cellular rejuvenation.

Negative allosteric modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 results in broad spectrum activity relevant to treatment resistant depression.

Evidence suggests that 30-50% of patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) are classified as suffering from treatment resistant depression (TRD) as they have an inadequate response to standard antidepressants. A key feature of this patient population is the increased incidence of co-morbid symptoms like anxiety and pain. Recognizing that current standards of care are largely focused on monoaminergic mechanisms of action (MOAs), innovative approaches to drug discovery for TRD are targeting glutamate hyperfunction. Here we describe the in vitro and in vivo profile of GRN-529, a novel negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). In cell based pharmacology assays, GRN-529 is a high affinity (Ki 5.4 nM), potent (IC50 3.1 nM) and selective (>1000-fold selective vs mGluR1) mGluR5 NAM. Acute administration of GRN-529 (0.1-30 mg/kg p.o.) had dose-dependent efficacy across a therapeutically relevant battery of animal models, comprising depression (decreased immobility time in tail suspension and forced swim tests) and 2 of the co-morbid symptoms overrepresented in TRD, namely anxiety (attenuation of stress-induced hyperthermia, and increased punished crossings in the four plate test) and pain (reversal of hyperalgesia due to sciatic nerve ligation or inflammation). The potential side effect liability of GRN-529 was also assessed using preclinical models: GRN-529 had no effect on rat sexual behavior or motor co-ordination (rotarod), however it impaired cognition in mice (social odor recognition). Efficacy and side effects of GRN-529 were compared to standard of care agents (antidepressant, anxiolytic or analgesics) and the tool mGluR5 NAM, MTEP. To assess the relationship between target occupancy and efficacy, ex vivo receptor occupancy was measured in parallel with efficacy testing. This revealed a strong correlation between target engagement, exposure and efficacy across behavioral endpoints, which supports the potential translational value of PET imaging to dose selection in patients. Collectively this broad spectrum profile of efficacy of GRN-529 supports our hypothesis that negative allosteric modulation of mGluR5 could represent an innovative therapeutic approach to the treatment of TRD. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors'.

Evidence for sustained elevation of IL-6 in the CNS as a key contributor of depressive-like phenotypes.

There is compelling clinical literature implicating a role for cytokines in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) are pleiotropic inflammatory cytokines that have been reported to be elevated in patients with MDD. The present studies were undertaken to investigate the relationship between IL-6 and IL-1ß in animal models of depressive-like behavior. Analysis of brain tissue homogenates in the cortex of rats subjected to chronic stress paradigms revealed elevated levels of IL-6 protein in the absence of elevations in IL-1ß. Central administration of recombinant mouse IL-6 produced depressive-like phenotypes in mice, which were not accompanied by IL-1ß-induced increases in the brain tissue or IL-1ß-related sickness behavior typical of a general central nervous system inflammatory response. Systemic administration of fluoxetine in the presence of centrally administered IL-6 failed to produce the expected antidepressant-like response in mice relative to sham-infused controls. Further, administration of fluoxetine to mice with endogenous overexpression of brain IL-6 (MRL/MpJ-Fas(LPR/LPR) (LPR mice)) failed to produce the expected antidepressant-like effect relative to fluoxetine-treated control mice (MRL/MpJ(+/+)). Interestingly, blockade of IL-6 trans-signaling by coadministration of a gp130/Fc monomer or an anti-mouse IL-6 antibody with IL-6 prevented the IL-6-induced increases in immobility time as well as attenuated IL-6-induced increases of protein in the cortex. Taken together, these data indicate that elevations in IL-6 may have a pathophysiological role underlying depression and more specifically resistance to current classes of antidepressant medications and suggest that modulation of the IL-6 signaling pathway may have therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant depression.

Preclinical characterization of WAY-211612: a dual 5-HT uptake inhibitor and 5-HT (1A) receptor antagonist and potential novel antidepressant.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: As a combination of 5-HT selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonism may yield a rapidly acting antidepressant, WAY-211612, a compound with both SSRI and 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist activities, was evaluated in preclinical models. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Occupancy studies confirmed the mechanism of action of WAY-211612, while its in vivo profile was characterized in microdialysis and behavioural models. KEY RESULTS: WAY-211612 inhibited 5-HT reuptake (K(i) = 1.5 nmol.L(-1); K(B) = 17.7 nmol.L(-1)) and exhibited full 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist activity (K(i) = 1.2 nmol.L(-1); K(B) = 6.3 nmol.L(-1); I(max) 100% in adenyl cyclase assays; K(B) = 19.8 nmol.L(-1); I(max) 100% in GTPgammaS). WAY-211612 (3 and 30 mg.kg(-1), po) occupied 5-HT reuptake sites in rat prefrontal cortex (56.6% and 73.6% respectively) and hippocampus (52.2% and 78.5%), and 5-HT(1A) receptors in the prefrontal cortex (6.7% and 44.7%), hippocampus (8.3% and 48.6%) and dorsal raphe (15% and 83%). Acute or chronic treatment with WAY-211612 (3-30 mg.kg(-1), po) raised levels of cortical 5-HT approximately twofold, as also observed with a combination of an SSRI (fluoxetine; 30 mg.kg(-1), s.c.) and a 5-HT(1A) antagonist (WAY-100635; 0.3 mg.kg(-1), s.c). WAY-211612 (3.3-30 mg.kg(-1), s.c.) decreased aggressive behaviour in the resident-intruder model, while increasing the number of punished crossings (3-30 mg.kg(-1), i.p. and 10-56 mg.kg(-1), po) in the mouse four-plate model and decreased adjunctive drinking behaviour (56 mg.kg(-1), i.p.) in the rat scheduled-induced polydipsia model. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that WAY-211612 may represent a novel antidepressant.

Lecozotan (SRA-333): a selective serotonin 1A receptor antagonist that enhances the stimulated release of glutamate and acetylcholine in the hippocampus and possesses cognitive-enhancing properties.

Recent data has suggested that the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)(1A) receptor is involved in cognitive processing. A novel 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, 4-cyano-N-{2R-[4-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[1,4]-dioxin-5-yl)-piperazin-1-yl]-propyl}-N-pyridin-2-yl-benzamide HCl (lecozotan), which has been characterized in multiple in vitro and in vivo pharmacological assays as a drug to treat cognitive dysfunction, is reported. In vitro binding and intrinsic activity determinations demonstrated that lecozotan is a potent and selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist. Using in vivo microdialysis, lecozotan (0.3 mg/kg s.c.) antagonized the decrease in hippocampal extracellular 5-HT induced by a challenge dose (0.3 mg/kg s.c.) of 8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and had no effects alone at doses 10-fold higher. Lecozotan significantly potentiated the potassium chloride-stimulated release of glutamate and acetylcholine in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Chronic administration of lecozotan did not induce 5-HT(1A) receptor tolerance or desensitization in a behavioral model indicative of 5-HT(1A) receptor function. In drug discrimination studies, lecozotan (0.01-1 mg/kg i.m.) did not substitute for 8-OH-DPAT and produced a dose-related blockade of the 5-HT(1A) agonist discriminative stimulus cue. In aged rhesus monkeys, lecozotan produced a significant improvement in task performance efficiency at an optimal dose (1 mg/kg p.o.). Learning deficits induced by the glutamatergic antagonist MK-801 [(-)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate] (assessed by perceptually complex and visual spatial discrimination) and by specific cholinergic lesions of the hippocampus (assessed by visual spatial discrimination) were reversed by lecozotan (2 mg/kg i.m.) in marmosets. The heterosynaptic nature of the effects of lecozotan imbues this compound with a novel mechanism of action directed at the biochemical pathologies underlying cognitive loss in Alzheimer's disease.

Characterization of the anxiolytic properties of a novel neuroactive steroid, Co 2-6749 (GMA-839; WAY-141839; 3alpha, 21-dihydroxy-3beta-trifluoromethyl-19-nor-5beta-pregnan-20-one), a selective modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel neuroactive steroid, Co 2-6749 (GMA-839; WAY-141839; 3alpha, 21-dihydroxy-3beta-trifluoromethyl-19-nor-5beta-pregnan-20-one), on gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors in vitro and to define its anxiolytic-like effects and side effect profile in vivo. Co 2-6749 fully inhibited [(35)S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding in rat brain cortical membranes with an IC(50) value of 230 nM and in human gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptor subunit combinations of alpha1beta2gamma2L, alpha2beta2gamma2L, alpha3beta2gamma2L, alpha4beta3gamma2L, alpha5beta2gamma2L, and alpha6beta3gamma2L receptors (IC(50) values of 200, 200, 96, 2300, 210, and 2000 nM). Rats were trained in a Geller-Seifter operant conflict paradigm. Co 2-6749 caused a dose-related increase in punished responding with a minimum effective dose of 1.6 mg/kg, p.o., a wide therapeutic index relative to a decrease in unpunished responding and relative to ataxia, and no tolerance. Additionally, ethanol caused less than a 2-fold shift to the left in the dose-response function of Co 2-6749 in the rotorod procedure in rats. In a pigeon conflict paradigm, punished responding was maximally increased to 784% of vehicle control by 30 mg/kg, p.o., with a 2-h duration and no effect on unpunished responding at this dose. Similarly, punished responding in squirrel monkeys was maximally increased to 1774% of control by 10 mg/kg, p.o., with no effect on unpunished responding at this dose. With robust anxiolytic-like activity across species, a large separation between anxiolytic-like effects and sedation/ataxia, a minimal interaction with ethanol, a lack of tolerance, and apparent oral bioavailability, Co 2-6749 makes an ideal candidate for development as a novel anxiolytic drug.

Pharmacological characterization of the discriminative stimulus effects of the potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine in rats.

The discriminative stimulus (DS) effects of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) were evaluated in 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats that were trained to discriminate 4-AP from saline in a standard two-lever food reinforced drug discrimination procedure. 4-AP along with its structural analogs 3-aminopyridine (3-AP), 2-aminopyridine (2-AP), and 2,3-diaminopyridine (2,3-DIAP) produced dose-dependent increases in the percentage of responses on the 4-AP-associated lever with full substitution at one or more doses. 2,6-Diaminopyridine (2, 6-DIAP) and 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DIAP) produced dose-dependent increases in the percentage of responses on the 4-AP-associated lever but only partially substituted for 4-AP. Neither 4-dimethylaminopyridine (4-DMAP) nor pyridine substituted for 4-AP. Substitution studies were also conducted with indirect dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine agonists, and gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA(A)) agonists and antagonists. The norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor tomoxetine, but not nisoxetine or imipramine, produced dose-dependent increases in the percentage of responses on the 4-AP-associated lever and partially substituted for 4-AP. In addition, antagonism studies were conducted using indirect dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine antagonists, and GABA(A) agonists as pretreatments to the training dose of 4-AP. The benzodiazepine agonists chlordiazepoxide and diazepam dose dependently attenuated the DS effects of 4-AP. The present results demonstrate that the K-channel blocker 4-AP can be trained as a DS in rats and the DS effects of 4-AP are likely mediated through blockade of voltage-dependent K-channels. The results also demonstrate a novel interaction between benzodiazepines and K-channels.

Synthesis and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) activity of 2,3,4,4a-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazino[1,2-a]quinoxalin-5-(6H)ones and 2,3,4,4a,5,6-hexahydro-1H-pyrazino[1,2-a]quinoxalines.

A series of 2,3,4,4a-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazino[1,2-a]quinoxalin-5-(6H)ones and 2,3,4,4a,5,6-hexahydro-1H-pyrazino[1,2-a]quinoxalines was shown to exhibit 5-HT2C agonist binding and functional activity. Compound 21R inhibited food intake over 2 h in fasted, male Sprague Dawley rats with ED50 values of 2 mg/kg (i.p.) and 10 mg/kg (p.o.).

The preclinical pharmacological profile of WAY-132983, a potent M1 preferring agonist.

Muscarinic M1 preferring agonists may improve cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease. Side effect assessment of the M1 preferring agonist WAY-132983 showed significant salivation (10 mg/kg i.p. or p.o.) and produced dose-dependent hypothermia after i. p. or p.o. administration. WAY-132983 significantly reduced scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg i.p.)-induced hyperswimming in mice. Cognitive assessment in rats used pretrained animals in a forced choice, 1-h delayed nonmatch-to-sample radial arm maze task. WAY-132983 (0.3 mg/kg i.p) significantly reduced scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg s.c.)-induced errors. Oral WAY-132983 attenuated scopolamine-induced errors; that is, errors produced after combining scopolamine and WAY-132983 (to 3 mg/kg p.o.) were not significantly increased compared with those of vehicle-treated control animals, whereas errors after scopolamine were significantly higher than those of control animals. With the use of miniosmotic pumps, 0.03 mg/kg/day (s.c.) WAY-132983 significantly reduced AF64A (3 nmol/3 microliter/lateral ventricle)-induced errors. Verification of AF64A cholinotoxicity showed significantly lower choline acetyltransferase activity in the hippocampi of AF64A-treated animals, with no significant changes in the striatal or frontal cortex. Cognitive assessment in primates involved the use of pretrained aged animals in a visual delayed match-to-sample procedure. Oral WAY-132983 significantly increased the number of correct responses during short and long delay interval testing. These effects were also apparent 24 h after administration. WAY-132983 exhibited cognitive benefit at doses lower than those producing undesirable effects; therefore, WAY-132983 is a potential candidate for improving the cognitive status of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Differential modulation of behavioral effects of cocaine by low- and high-efficacy D1 agonists.

Dopamine D1 agonists differing in efficacy with respect to stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity and other in vitro and in vivo criteria were evaluated for their capacity to modulate the behavioral effects of cocaine in squirrel monkeys. Monkeys were trained either to respond on a fixed-ratio schedule in which lever pressing terminated a stimulus associated with electric shock or to discriminate cocaine from vehicle using a two-lever drug-discrimination procedure. When administered in combination with cocaine, D1 agonists displaying relatively low efficacy (SKF 38393, SKF 75670) attenuated both the rate-altering effects of cocaine on fixed-ratio responding and the discriminative-stimulus effects of cocaine, resulting in overall rightward shifts of the cocaine dose-response functions. Maximal attenuation of the behavioral effects of cocaine by the D1 partial agonists was comparable to that produced by the D1 antagonist SCH 39166. In contrast, D1 agonists displaying relatively high efficacy (SKF 81297, SKF 82958, SKF 83189) either had little effect on or accentuated the rate-altering and discriminative-stimulus effects of cocaine. The results show that D1 partial agonists can act as functional cocaine antagonists and may be viable candidate medications for the management of cocaine addiction.

Attenuation of the locomotor activating effects of D-amphetamine, cocaine, and scopolamine by potassium channel modulators.

1. Locomotor activating effects of D-amphetamine, cocaine, and scopolamine were determined alone and after pretreatment with K-channel modulators in mice. 2. When administered alone, D-amphetamine (1.0- 30 mg/kg) and cocaine (3.0- 56 mg/kg) produced inverted U-shaped dose-effect curves characteristic of psychomotor stimulant drugs. 3. When administered alone, scopolamine (3.0-56 mg/kg) also produced dose-dependent increases in locomotor activity but these effects plateaued with similar increases in locomotor activity induced by 10-56 mg/kg of scopolamine. 4. Pretreatment with the K-channel blockers 4-aminopyridine (0.3-1.7 mg/kg), quinine (30-100 mg/kg) or apamin (0.3-1.0 mg/kg) attenuated the locomotor increases induced by d-amphetamine, cocaine, and scopolamine. 5. Like the K-channel blockers, pretreatment with the K-channel openers cromakalim (1.0-3.0 mg/kg) and pinacidil (3.0-10 mg/kg) also attenuated the locomotor increases induced by D-amphetamine and scopolamine but did not modify the locomotor activating effects of cocaine. 6. These results demonstrate that K-channel modulation modifies the effects of D-amphetamine, cocaine, and scopolamine. 7. The results also demonstrate that K-channel openers can differentially alter the behavioral effects of cocaine and D-amphetamine.

Agonist efficacy and the behavioral effects of dopamine D1 receptor ligands: drug interaction studies in squirrel monkeys.

Dopamine agonists that reportedly differ in intrinsic activity at dopamine D1 receptors were compared for their behavioral effects in squirrel monkeys responding under a fixed-ration schedule of reinforcement. When administered alone, all drugs produced dose-related decreases in fixed-ratio response rates. Pretreatment with the dopamine D1 receptor blocker SCH 39166, but not the dopamine D2 receptor blocker eticlopride, produced rightward shifts in the dose-effect functions for the high-efficacy dopamine D1 agonists SKF 82958 (R,S-6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-3-allyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro- 1H-3-benzazepine) SKF 81297 (R,S-6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine ) and dihydrexidine, indicative of surmountable antagonism at dopamine D1 receptors. Pretreatment with SCH 39166, however, did not antagonize the effects of the low-efficacy dopamine D1 agonists SKF 75670 (R,S-7,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine ), SKF 77434 (R,S-7,8-dihydroxy-3-allyl-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine) or R-SKF 38393 (R-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine); instead, dose-effect functions for each of these drugs were shifted downward and to the left. In additional experiments, pretreatment with SKF 75670 produced overall rightward shifts in the dose-effect functions for dihydrexidine and SKF 81297; pretreatment with R-SKF 38393 produced an overall rightward shift in the dose-effect function for dihydrexidine, but not SKF 81297; and pretreatment with SKF 81297 failed to produce a rightward shift in the dose-effect function for dihydrexidine. These findings provide further evidence that the behavioral effects of dopamine D1 agonists in monkeys are mediated primarily by their actions at dopamine D1 receptors. The differing susceptibility of dopamine D1 agonists to antagonism by SCH 39166 and their differing interactions provide functional evidence for differences in their dopamine D1 agonist efficacy.

Modification of the behavioral effects of (+/-)BAY k 8644, cocaine and d-amphetamine by L-type calcium channel blockers in squirrel monkeys.

Behavioral effects of the 1,4-dihydropyridine L-type calcium channel activator (+/-)BAY k 8644 [(+/-)methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3- nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-pyridine-5-carboxylate] the monoamine reuptake inhibitor cocaine and the monoamine releaser d-amphetamine were determined alone and after pretreatment with the structurally distinct L-type calcium channel blockers nimodipine (1,4-dihydropyridine), verapamil (phenylakylamine), diltiazem (benzothiazepine) and flunarizine (diphenylalkylamine) in squirrel monkeys responding under a 10-response fixed-ratio schedule of stimulus-shock termination. When administered alone, (+/-)BAY k 8644 (0.1-0.56 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent decreases in rates of responding. Pretreatment with nimodipine (3.0-10 mg/kg) or verapamil (1.0-3.0 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent rightward shifts of the (+/-)BAY k 8644 dose-response curve. In contrast, pretreatment with flunarizine (3.0 mg/kg) produced a leftward and downward shift of the (+/-)BAY k 8644 dose-response curve. Pretreatment with diltiazem (10-17.8 mg/kg) did not modify the (+/-)BAY k 8644 dose-effect curve. In addition, stereoselectivity was evident in the behavioral effects of (+/-)BAY k 8644 with the S(-)-enantiomer being approximately 3-fold more potent than the racemate. When administered alone, cocaine (0.1-5.6 mg/kg) and d-amphetamine (0.1-3.0 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent decreases in rates of responding. Pretreatment with flunarizine (3.0 mg/kg) produced rightward shifts of the cocaine and d-amphetamine dose-response curves. Pretreatment with nimodipine (10 mg/kg), verapamil (3 mg/kg) or diltiazem (17.8 mg/kg) did not modify the effects of cocaine or d-amphetamine. The results of the present study suggest that the behavioral effects of (+/-)BAY k 8644 are differentially modified by L-type calcium channel blockers interacting with different sites on the channel and also suggest that the calcium channel blockers can be distinguished based on their differing interactions with (+/-)BAY k 8644, cocaine and d-amphetamine.

K-channel blockers attenuate the presynaptic effects of the D2/D3 agonist quinpirole in monkeys.

The present study investigated whether potassium channel blockade could modify the behavioral effects of the dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist quinpirole in squirrel monkeys. The duration of immobility and/or unusual postures indicative of catalepsy-associated behavior or the duration of scratching, known to be related to the effects of low and high doses, respectively, of quinpirole, were scored during 5-min observation periods in three squirrel monkeys. Saline or incremental doses of quinpirole were administered 10 min before each observation period. Administration of saline did not increase the durations of catalepsy-associated behavior (8% of the observational period) or scratching (< 1% of the observational period). Low doses of quinpirole (0.003-0.03 mg/kg) dose dependently increased the duration of catalepsy-associated behavior to approximately 54% of the observational periods. Higher doses of quinpirole (0.1-0.3 mg/kg) did not increase the duration of catalepsy; rather, these doses increased the duration of scratching to approximately 57% of the observational periods. The differential induction of catalepsy-associated behavior or scratching is believed to be related to, respectively, pre- and postsynaptic activity of quinpirole on dopamine D2/D3 receptors. Pretreatment with the potassium channel blockers apamin, 4-aminopyridine, and amodiaquin attenuated the effects of quinpirole (0.03 mg/kg) on catalepsy-associated behavior, with cataleptic postures maintained for 27, 21, and 24% of the observational periods, respectively. In contrast, pretreatment with potassium channel blockers did not consistently affect the scratching induced by quinpirole. In addition, apamin did not attenuate the catalepsy-associated behavior induced by the postsynaptic D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol (0.01-0.1 mg/kg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Differential effects of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor agonists on schedule-controlled behavior of squirrel monkeys.

The effects of dopamine agonists differing in affinity and selectivity at D1 and D2 types of dopamine receptors were compared in squirrel monkeys responding under two different schedules of reinforcement: a fixed-interval (FI) schedule of stimulus-shock termination and a fixed-ratio (FR) schedule of food presentation. Dopamine D1 family agonists included dihydrexidine, SKF 81297, SKF 82958, R-6-Br-APB, SKF 83189, SKF 77434, SKF 75670 and R- and R, S-SKF 38393. Dopamine D2 agonists included (+)-PHNO, quinpirole and N-0434; nonselective DA agonists included R(-)-apomorphine and CY 208-243. The behavioral effects of D1 agonists differed qualitatively from those of D2 and nonselective DA agonists. D1 agonists produced dose-related decreases in both FI and FR responding, with comparable doses being effective under the two schedules. The rank order of potency for the rate-decreasing effects of these drugs was R(+)-6-Br-APB > SKF 75670 > SKF 82958 > R-SKF 38393 > SKF 81297 > SKF 77434 > SKF 83189 > dihydrexidine > R, S-SKF 38393. In contrast, D2 and nonselective DA agonists produced significant increases in rates of FI responding at doses that reduced FR response rates. The rank order of potency for the rate-increasing effects of these drugs under the FI schedule was (+)-PHNO > N-0434 > R-apomorphine > CY 208-243 > quinpirole.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Observational studies of dopamine D1 and D2 agonists in squirrel monkeys.

The behavioral effects of selective D1 and D2, nonselective, and indirectly acting dopamine agonists were compared in squirrel monkeys using continuous observation procedures. D1 agonists including SKF 81297, SKF 82958, and R(+)-6-Br-APB produced dose-dependent increases in the frequencies of stationary postures and head movements and had little or no effect on either huddling or scratching. In contrast, SKF 75670 and R-SKF 38393, which are considered to be D1 partial agonists, had effects comparable to those of the D1 antagonist SCH 39166. That is, the D1 partial agonists increased the duration of huddling without greatly altering the frequencies of stationary postures, head movements, or scratching. Unlike the D1 agonists, the D2 agonists (+)-PHNO, quinpirole, and bromocriptine increased the frequency of scratching, but did not consistently alter other observable behaviors. The indirect dopamine agonists cocaine, GBR 12909, and d-amphetamine and the nonselective D1/D2 agonist CY 208-243, but not (-)apomorphine, had effects comparable to those of D1 agonists such as SKF 81297. That is, each of these drugs increased the frequencies of stationary postures and head movements with little or no effect on scratching or huddling. Additionally, effects of the D1 agonist SKF 82958 and the indirect dopamine agonist cocaine were surmountably antagonized by the D1 antagonist SCH 39166. The present results show that: 1) behavioral effects of D1 and D2 agonists in monkeys are qualitatively different; 2) D1 agonists presumed to differ in intrinsic activity have dissimilar effects; and 3) effects of indirect dopamine agonists are comparable to those of D1 agonists with presumably high intrinsic activity.

Catalepsy-associated behavior induced by dopamine D1 receptor antagonists and partial dopamine D1 receptor agonists in squirrel monkeys.

Observational procedures were used to compare the behavioral effects of dopamine D1 receptor antagonists and partial dopamine D1 receptor agonists in squirrel monkeys. The dopamine D1 receptor antagonists SCH 39166 ((-)-trans-6-7,7a,8,9,13b-hexahydro-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-N- methyl-5H-benzo(d)naphtho-(2,1-b)azepine) and BW 737C89 ([S]-6-chloro-1-[2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylbenzyl]-7- hydroxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) produced dose-related increases in the duration of static and unusual postures, indicative of catalepsy. R-SKF 38393 (R(+)-7,8- dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-[1H]-3-benzazepine) and SKF 75670 (7,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-[1H]-3- benzazepine), which are considered partial dopamine D1 receptor agonists, also consistently produced dose-related increases in catalepsy-associated behavior and had effects comparable in magnitude to those of dopamine D1 receptor antagonists. In contrast, the higher efficacy D1 agonists SKF 81297 (6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-[1H]-3- benzazepine) and SKF 82958 (6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-allyl-[1H]-3- benzazepine) did not produce catalepsy-associated behavior at any dose tested. The results indicate that dopamine D1 agonists differ with respect to cataleptogenic activity, possibly reflecting differences in intrinsic activity.

Dopamine D1 receptor involvement in the discriminative-stimulus effects of SKF 81297 in squirrel monkeys.

The discriminative-stimulus effects of the selective dopamine D1 agonist 6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-[1H]-3-benzazepine (SKF 81297) were investigated in squirrel monkeys trained to discriminate i.v. injections of SKF 81297 from saline in a two-lever drug-discrimination procedure. SKF 81297 produced dose-related increases in responding on the SKF 81297-associated lever with full substitution occurring at the training dose in all monkeys. Pretreatment with the selective D1 antagonist(-)-trans-6-7,7a,8,9,13b-hexahydro-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-N- methyl-5H- benzo(d)naphtho-(2,1-b)azepine 2-(SCH 39166) and the D1 partial agonist 7,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-[1H]-3-benzazepine (SKF 75670) produced rightward shifts of the dose-effect curve for the discriminative-stimulus effects of SKF 81297, indicative of surmountable antagonism. Pretreatment with the selective D2 antagonist eticlopride, however, did not systematically alter the discriminative-stimulus effects of SKF 81297. Stereoselectivity was evident in the discriminative-stimulus effects of the enantiomers of the structurally related D1 agonist 3-allyl-6-bromo-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-[1H]-3-benz azepin e (6-Br-APB), with the R-, but not the S-enantiomer, producing dose-related increases in responding on the SKF 81297-associated lever and full substitution in all monkeys. Another selective D1 agonist 6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-allyl-[1H]-3- benzazepine (SKF 82958) and the nonselective D1/D2 agonists (-)apomorphine and (-)4,6,6a,7,8,12b-hexahydro-7 methyl-indolo[4,3-ab]phenanthridine (CY 208-243), also engendered dose-related increases in SKF 81297-appropriate responding with full substitution occurring in one-half of the monkeys studied. The D2 agonists, (+)-4-propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine and quinpirole, engendered dose-related increases in SKF 81297-appropriate responding but did not substitute fully in any monkey studied. Other dopaminergic drugs, including the D1 partial agonists SKF 75670 and R(+)-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-[1H]-3- benzazepine (R-SKF 38393), and the indirect dopamine agonists, cocaine, d-amphetamine and 1-(2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl)-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine (GBR 12909), did not substitute fully for SKF 81297 in any monkey studied. These results suggest that agonist actions at the D1 subtype of dopamine receptor are prominently involved in the discriminative-stimulus effects of SKF 81297.

Modification of the behavioral effects of the selective dopamine D2 agonist (+)-4-propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine by dopamine antagonists in monkeys.

The present studies were conducted to evaluate the modification of the behavioral effects of the selective D2 agonist (+)-4-propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine [(+)-PHNO] by dopamine receptor blockade. In squirrel monkeys responding under a fixed-ratio schedule of stimulus-shock termination, the effects of (+)-PHNO were determined alone and in combination with the selective D2 antagonist eticlopride, the selective D1 antagonist (-)-trans-6,7,7a,8,9,13b- hexahydro-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-N-methyl-5H-benzo(d)naphtho-(2,1)azepine (SCH 39166), the nonselective D1/D2 antagonist cis-flupentixol or the atypical neuroleptic clozapine. When administered alone, (+)-PHNO produced dose-dependent decreases in rates of responding. Pretreatment with eticlopride and cis-flupentixol resulted in dose-dependent right-ward shifts of the (+)-PHNO dose-effect curve, indicative of surmountable antagonism. Pretreatment with SCH 39166 and clozapine failed to antagonize the effects of (+)-PHNO and resulted in a downward shift of the (+)-PHNO dose-effect curve. Other experiments were conducted to determine the duration of either catalepsy-associated behavior or repetitive scratching produced by (+)-PHNO alone and in combination with selected dopamine receptor blockers. Low doses of (+)-PHNO (0.001-0.003 mg/kg) increased the duration of catalepsy-associated behavior, whereas higher doses (0.003-0.01 mg/kg) restored the duration of catalepsy-associated behavior to control values and produced increases in the duration of repetitive scratching.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Stereoselective behavioral effects of Lu 19-005 in monkeys: relation to binding at cocaine recognition sites.

The effects of the monoamine uptake inhibitor Lu 19-005 ((+/-)-trans-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N-methyl-1-indanamine) and its (+) and (-) enantiomers, Lu 20-042 and Lu 20-043, were compared with those of cocaine and the selective dopamine uptake inhibitor GBR 12909 (1-(2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl)-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine) in behavioral and radioligand binding experiments. Behavioral experiments were conducted in groups of squirrel monkeys trained under fixed-interval schedules of reinforcement in which responding was maintained either by presentation of food or by termination of a visual stimulus associated with mild electric shock. Radioligand binding studies were conducted using [3H]CFT and [3H]GBR 12935 to label elements of the dopamine uptake system in caudate-putamen membranes of cynomolgus monkeys. All drugs produced dose-related increases in response rate under the fixed-interval schedules. Lu 19-005, Lu 20-042, and Lu 20-043 had relatively slow onsets (approximately 2 h) and relatively long durations of action, with effects persisting for two or more days following administration. Stereoselectivity was evident in the behavioral effects of the enantiomers of Lu 19-005, with Lu 20-042 being approximately 14 times more potent than Lu 20-043. In radioligand binding experiments, Lu 19-005 and its enantiomers were potent inhibitors of specifically bound [3H]CFT and [3H]GBR 12935. As in behavioral experiments, Lu 20-042 was more potent than Lu 20-043. The degree of stereoselectivity, however, varied with the temperature of the assay medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)