Preclinical characterization of a novel radiolabeled analog of practolol for the molecular imaging of myocardial ß-adrenoceptor density.

BACKGROUND: The great clinical potential of myocardial ß-AR imaging has been shown by recent studies evaluating the ß-AR-specific, non-selective agent [(11)C]-CGP12177 in the setting of idiopathic-dilated cardiomyopathy, and myocardial infarction. However, the short half-life of (11)C hampers the potential of [(11)C]-CGP12177 for routine clinical use. AMI9 is an analog of the ß-adrenoceptor ligand practolol that can readily be labeled using radioactive isotopes of iodine. The present study was aimed at characterizing the in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo ß-AR binding properties of [(125)I]-AMI9. METHODS AND RESULTS: Newborn rat cardiomyocytes were used for saturation and kinetic binding assays as well as for displacement and competition experiments. Isolated perfused rat hearts were used to evaluate the pharmacological activity of AMI9. The in vivo kinetics of [(125)I]-AMI9 were studied using biodistribution experiments in mice. [1(25)I]-AMI9 displayed high specific affinity for ß-AR with no ß-AR subtype selectivity (K D, 5.6 ± 0.3 nM; B max, 231 ± 7 fmol·(mg protein)(-1)). AMI9 potently inhibited the inotropic effects of isoproterenol. The early in vivo cardiac and lung activities of [(125)I]-AMI9 compared favorably with those of the clinically validated tracer CGP12177. CONCLUSION: Iodine-labeled AMI9 is a promising agent for the molecular imaging of myocardial ß-AR density.

Synthesis and binding to beta-adrenergic receptors of p-aminobenzyl analogues of practolol and atenolol.

The p-aminobenzyl analogues (8a and 8b, respectively) of the cardioselective beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists practolol and atenolol were prepared from the corresponding phenoxymethyloxiranes in 30 and 13% yields, respectively. The dissociation constants for the beta-adrenergic receptor were measured in membrane preparations of rat heart and lung. In membranes from the heart (which contain mostly beta 1-adrenergic receptors), the affinities of the derivatives and parent compounds were similar. By contrast, in membranes from the lung (which contain mostly beta 2-adrenergic receptors), the derivatives were more potent than the parent compounds. Thus, the cardioselectivities of the p-aminobenzyl analogues 8a and 8b were about one-sixth those of the respective parents.

Synthesis and beta-adrenergic antagonist activity of stereoisomeric practolol and propranolol derivatives.

A series of stereoisomeric practolol and propranolol derivatives has been synthesized in which the N-isopropyl group of the drug was replaced by an asymmetric heptanoic acid terminated by a substituted p-toluidide or p-(trifluoromethyl)anilide. The asymmetric epoxide, 3-(p-acetamidophenoxy)-1,2-epoxypropane, was allowed to react with a preformed enantiomeric 6-aminoheptanoic acid amide to yield the stereoisomeric practolol congener derivatives. An asymmetric drug precursor epoxide was prepared from p-acetamidophenol and enantiomeric 3-(tosyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane 6-aminoheptanoic acid amides were allowed to react with one of the enantiomers of 3-(1-naphthyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane. This drug precursor epoxide was prepared either by combining 1-naphthol with enantiomeric 3-(tosyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane (the Sharpless epoxide) or by combining 1-naphthol with enantiomeric 3-(tosyloxy)-1,2-propanediol followed by epoxidation. Pharmacological studies carried out for the practolol derivatives demonstrated a significant dependence of enhanced potency and tissue/subreceptor specificity on both the configuration of the drug asymmetric carbon and the configuration of the spacer asymmetric carbon. The compounds containing the S configuration at the drug asymmetric center and the R configuration at the spacer asymmetric carbon exhibited an increase in potency over the other stereoisomeric congener derivatives and the progenitor drug. For the propranolol congener derivatives, a large decrease in potency was observed for all of the stereoisomers over the progenitor drug. The propranolol stereoisomers containing the S configuration at the drug asymmetric center were more active than those containing the R configuration at that center.

Metabolites of procainamide and practolol inhibit complement components C3 and C4.

Drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus arises from toxic side-effects of administration of hydralazine, isoniazid, procainamide and practolol. Hydralazine and isoniazid are nucleophilic drugs and inhibit the covalent binding reaction of complement components, C3 and C4, an effect likely to lead to deposition of immune complexes (a feature of systemic lupus erythematosus). Procainamide and practolol do not themselves inhibit C3 and C4. A range of metabolites and putative metabolites of procainamide and practolol were synthesized, and tested for their ability to inhibit the covalent binding reactions of C3 and C4. The highly nucleophilic hydroxylamine metabolite of procainamide was strongly inhibitory in both tests, as was a putative hydroxylamine metabolite of practolol. These studies indicate a potential role for the hydroxylamine metabolites in mediating the toxic side-effects of procainamide and practolol, and emphasize the need for adequate measurements of hydroxylamine metabolites in human tissue.

Bivalent ligand type beta-adrenolytics related to practolol.

The synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a number of symmetrical bivalent ligand type beta-adrenolytics related to practolol are reported. The best results have been observed with N,N'-bis[3-[2-hydroxy-3-[1-methylethyl)amino]propoxy]phenyl] ethanediamide.

In vitro pharmacologic activity of congener derivatives and model conjugates of propranolol and practolol.

Previous studies in our laboratory suggested that synthetized derivatives of isoproterenol and histamine could create agonists more potent and receptor and/or tissue selective than the parent compound. In the present study we have evaluated the hypothesis that our results with isoproterenol and histamine derivatives could be extended to include beta-adrenergic antagonists. With this purpose in mind, fourteen derivatives of propranolol and practolol were synthesized and tested in four in vitro systems. The congeners and conjugates were tested using biologic assays (blocking of cAMP accumulation) and/or radioligand binding assays in S-49 lymphoma cells and in rat adipocytes, heart and lung which contain beta 1 and/or beta 2 receptors. Our results indicate that structural modifications distant from the pharmacophore alter the pharmacologic profile of the parent compound. The relative potencies of the derivatives were dependent upon several key factors including the length of the methylene spacer chain and the nature of the substituents on the aromatic ring. The presence of a spacer group with four methylenes resulted in the most active compound in each series when tested on S-49 cells. The derivatives with a paramethyl toluidide group were more potent than the derivatives with a trifluoromethyl toluidide group. The dipeptide derivatives were more potent on adipocyte than S-49 cells, suggesting a preference for beta 1 receptors. Some of the same modifications that led to altered potency and which resulted in an increased receptor and/or tissue selectivity using the progenitors isoproterenol or histamine did extrapolate to the beta blockers. Our data suggest that alterations in receptor and/or tissue selectivity must be imparted by the carrier moiety of the drug and may be related to the biochemical microenvironment of the receptors.

Beta-adrenoceptor antagonist activity of bivalent ligands. 1. Diamide analogues of practolol.

Two series of bivalent ligands (P-X-P) containing the (R,S)-3-[(4-aminoaryl)oxy]-1-(isopropylamino)propan-2-ol pharmacophore and a connecting alpha,omega-dicarbonylpoly(methylene) [X = -OC(CH2)nCO-] or alpha,omega-N,N'-bis(carbonylmethylene) polymethylenediamine [X = -OCCH2NH(CH2)nNHCH2CO-] spanner were synthesized and evaluated for beta-adrenoceptor antagonist activity in rat heart and lung membrane preparations. The target compounds were obtained as a mixture of stereoisomers in modest yields by using a three to four step sequence beginning with N-benzylpractolol. The results from the competitive binding studies indicated that binding affinity increased by a factor of up to 160 by increasing the length of the group spanning the pharmacophore moieties. Modest increases in cardioselectivity were also obtained. The data suggest that further increases in spanner length and lipophilicity and optical resolution may improve the potential of a labeled bivalent beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist to function as a myocardial imaging agent.

A method for presenting and comparing dose-response curves.

When dose-response curves are replicated, averaging the responses to each dose of drug reduces the slope of the mean curve. The shape of the curve can be preserved, however, by first normalizing each dose-response curve and then interpolating log concentrations that induce predetermined responses. These log concentrations are averaged, and then the responses are scaled to the mean maximal response. Mean dose-response curves obtained using this method were compared with mean curves obtained by the conventional method. It was found that this method did not distort the slope of the curve, and smaller differences were detected as significant. Neither method was found to be satisfactory for obtaining a truly representative mean curve for biphasic dose-response curves. The nature of the distribution of EC50 and maximal response was investigated, and it was confirmed that EC50 are log-normally distributed, whereas maximal responses are normally distributed.

Responses mediated via beta-1 adrenoceptors but not beta-2 adrenoceptors exhibit supersensitivity after chronic reserpine pretreatment.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether reserpine pretreatment induces supersensitivity of both beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptor-mediated responses. Guinea pigs received reserpine (0.5 mg kg-1 s.c. or i.p.) daily for 7 days. Isolated tissues were set up in the presence of phentolamine (5 microM) and metanephrine (10 microM) and the sensitivity to isoproterenol and, where possible, a partial agonist (ritodrine, salbutamol or prenalterol) was determined. The beta adrenoceptor-mediated responses were recorded as the increase in rate and tension of right and left atria, inhibition of carbachol-induced contractions of ileum, relaxation of aortic spirals contracted with histamine, inhibition of transmurally stimulated vas deferens and relaxation of tracheal spirals and lung strips with intrinsic tone. The atria exhibited supersensitivity after reserpine pretreatment (s.c. and i.p.) as a leftwards shift of the isoproterenol concentration-response curve and elevation of the prenalterol maximum response. The ileum was also supersensitive, but only when tissues from animals receiving i.p. reserpine were compared with shams, which themselves were subsensitive or when reserpine was administered s.c. The trachea was also supersensitive, but not the aorta, lung and vas deferens, the responses of which are mediated via beta-2 adrenoceptors. In contrast, beta-1 adrenoceptors are involved in the atrial, ileal and tracheal responses. Therefore, only responses mediated via beta-1 adrenoceptors exhibited reserpine-induced supersensitivity which supports the hypothesis that beta-1 but not beta-2 adrenoceptors receive a sympathetic innervation.

Beta adrenergic influence on oesophageal peristalsis in man.

The effects of the beta-1 adrenergic agonist prenalterol and the beta-2 adrenergic agonist terbutaline on oesophageal peristalsis were studied in nine healthy volunteers with pressures recorded in the proximal, middle, and distal oesophagus. Two doses of the agonists were given after pretreatment with placebo, propranolol, or metoprolol in a double blind randomised fashion. Terbutaline 0.25 +/- 0.25 mg iv decreased peristaltic pressure in middle oesophagus from 8.1 +/- 1.1 to 5.1 +/- 0.8 kPa (p less than 0.01) and in the distal oesophagus from 9.5 +/- 1.0 to 4.7 +/- 0.6 kPa (p less than 0.001). Peristaltic velocity was decreased in the distal oesophagus after terbutaline from 3.3 +/- 0.2 cm/sec to 2.9 +/- 0.2 cm/sec (p less than 0.05). Prenalterol 1 mg iv was followed by a decrease of peristaltic pressure in the middle oesophagus from 10.2 +/- 1.3 to 7.7 +/- 1.1 kPa (p less than 0.01) and a decrease of peristaltic velocity in upper oesophagus from 3.6 +/- 0.2 to 3.3 +/- 0.1 cm/sec (p less than 0.05) while no significant changes were seen in the distal oesophagus. Pretreatment with the beta-1 blocker metoprolol 15 mg iv blocked the effects of prenalterol 1 mg iv but not the effects of terbutaline. Propranolol 10 mg iv blocked the effects of terbutaline on peristaltic pressure. After metoprolol infusion mean distal peristaltic amplitude was 11.9 +/- 0.8 kPa compared with 8.5 +/- 1.2 kPa after placebo (p less than 0.01). It is concluded that both beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptor stimulation significantly decrease oesophageal peristaltic pressure in man. The body of the oesophagus seems to be under beta adrenergic inhibitory influence under physiological conditions.

Comparison of the cardiac effects of beta-adrenoreceptor agonists in anaesthetised and conscious dogs.

The cardiovascular effects of some beta-adrenoreceptor agonists on heart rate, blood pressure and myocardial contractility (maximum rate of change of left ventricular pressure/integrated isometric tension) were measured in pentobarbitone-anaesthetised and conscious, instrumented greyhounds. In anaesthetised dogs isoprenaline increased heart rate and myocardial contractility and reduced blood pressure. Prenalterol and RO 363, in equiactive inotropic doses, induced greater increases in heart rate than isoprenaline if blood pressure fell by less than 25 mmHg. Salbutamol had hypotensive activity at all doses and appeared to be a relatively selective inotrope. None of the agonists caused blood pressure to fall in the conscious dogs. Prenalterol and RO 363 were more effective inotropic stimulants, producing smaller increases in heart rate and more pronounced increases in myocardial contractility. Salbutamol, however, elicited greater increases in heart rate in the conscious animals and the inotropic selectivity demonstrated in the anaesthetised animals was lost. The direct effects of the beta-adrenoreceptor agonists, without modification by reflexes could be observed in the anaesthetised animals. The differences in the actions of the agonists in the conscious animals appear to be attributable to the state of the baroreceptor reflex control system and the relatively enhanced responsiveness of the heart.

Beta-adrenergic control of motility in the rat colon. I. Evidence for functional separation of the beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of colon activity.

The beta-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibitory response in isolated rat colon strips of beta-adrenoceptor agonists (isoproterenol, terbutaline, prenalterol) in the absence and presence of the selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonists metoprolol (beta 1) and IPS 339 (beta 2) demonstrates that both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors are involved in the inhibition of colonic motility. Neuronal blockade induced by tetrodotoxin suppressed the relatively high (68%) maximal response of prenalterol (partial beta-adrenoceptor agonist) to 23%. The concentration-response curves for terbutaline (beta 2-selective agonist) and isoproterenol (nonselective agonist) were not influenced by tetrodotoxin. The results thus indicate that the beta-adrenergic inhibition of spontaneous activity in the rat colon strip may be mediated at two functional levels within the colon wall: either by beta 2-adrenoceptors in the smooth muscle layer or by beta 1-adrenoceptors in the intramural ganglionic plexuses, which by neuronal elements are coupled to the effector smooth muscle.

Curve-fitting in pharmacokinetics--a comparison between gamma- and biexponential fits.

Seven sets of plasma concentration-time data were fitted to both a conventional biexponential equation and a gamma equation. The values of clearance (CL) and mean residence time (MRT) were calculated from the fitted parameters and compared with the values calculated by the trapezoid rule. Both the biexponential and gamma equations provided adequate fits to the data. The values of CL and MRT calculated from the biexponential fits correlated very closely with the values calculated by the trapezoid rule, but there were large discrepancies between the values calculated from the gamma fits and the trapezoid rule. The biexponential model appears to be less sensitive to scatter in the data.

Synthesis and biodistribution of 125I labeled bivalent analogs of practolol as potential myocardial imaging agents.

Iodinated bivalent ligands 3 and 4 and a monovalent ligand 5 were prepared from the cardioselective beta-antagonist, practolol. 125I-labeled 3, 4 and 5 were prepared by solid phase isotopic exchange reaction with carrier-free Na125I and examined in rats as potential receptor-site-directed myocardial imaging agents. Biodistribution of these agents in rats indicated that 125I-3 and 125I-4 were localized in the heart similarly to 125I-5 and the [125I]iodobenzoyl (6) that was previously reported. Localization of 125I-3 and 125I-4, was more persistent in the heart than that of 125I-monovalent ligands 5 and 6. Heart-to-blood ratios of 125I-3 and 125I-4 were significantly lower than those of 125I-5 and 125I-6, due mainly to slow blood clearance rates of 125I-3 and 125I-4.

Some new positive inotropic agents.

In the search for new effective positive inotropic agents for the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF), interest has focused mainly on two groups of agents namely adrenoceptor agonists and drugs inhibiting phosphodiesterase. Common for drugs belonging to both groups is that their positive inotropic effects seem to involve an increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. Drugs acting by stimulation of beta 1- and/or beta 2-adrenoceptors (e.g. dopamine, dobutamine, prenalterol, pirbuterol, salbutamol, terbutaline, fenoterol) have initial beneficial effects, but seem to be ineffective for long-term treatment. This has been suggested to be due to desensitization of the beta-adrenoceptors, and means, if this effect can be definitely established, that beta-adrenoceptor stimulation should be restricted to the acute treatment of CHF. Among drugs inhibiting phosphodiesterase, sulmazole, amrinone, milrinone, and fenoximone all have been shown to improve cardiac performance in patients with CHF during short-term treatment. However, results of long-term treatment with most of these drugs seem less encouraging. It has been suggested that these drugs may not be an effective approach to treatment of patients with CHF, since even if it is possible to achieve short-term gains, the long-term effects on the myocardium may be detrimental. Their ultimate place in the treatment of CHF remains to be established.

The immediate haemodynamic and electrophysiological response to prenalterol during fixed rate pacing in patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease.

The immediate haemodynamic and electrophysiologic effects of intravenous prenalterol 2.5-75 micrograms/kg in patients with coronary heart disease without clinical heart failure were investigated during fixed rate atrial pacing. Right ventricular peak dP/dt increased pronounced and serum concentration dependent after prenalterol concomitant with an increase in stroke volume and a moderate decrease in peripheral vascular resistance. The effects on haemodynamics after prenalterol were thus serum concentration dependent but with marked interindividual variation. AV nodal conduction velocity increased significantly. It is concluded that prenalterol possess pronounced inotropic properties. The haemodynamic response to prenalterol intravenously is to a lesser degree dependent on the chronotropic effects of the drug and it is often unpredictable.

The pharmacokinetics of oral and intravenous prenalterol in young, healthy volunteers.

The pharmacokinetics of prenalterol in healthy young volunteers after i.v. and oral dosing has been studied. There is evidence of non-linearity following the i.v. dosing. Evidence of dose-dependent pharmacokinetics following i.v. dosing has been obtained. The sustained-release formulation is very effective: almost 12 h were needed to achieve 50 per cent of the total AUC.

[New cardiotonic agents]. / Les nouveaux agents cardiotoniques.

The possibilities for therapy in the field of severe cardiac insufficiency have been extended in recent years by the introduction of novel agents endowed with a positive inotropic action. These substances may be arranged in two large classes: sympathomimetic agents and "non sympathomimetic--non digitalis-like" inotropic agents. The stimulant action of noradrenaline, adrenaline and isoproterenol on beta-adrenergic myocardial receptors has been clearly demonstrated but the usefulness of these medicines is limited by their positive chronotropic and arrhythmogenic actions. Dopamine and dobutamine have proved to be very useful in the treatment of patients in intensive care units. However, the exclusively intravenous route of administration limits their importance to the medium or long term. Several compounds, which are active by the oral route, have been the subject of therapeutic trials for the short or medium term. The problems posed by their use result, in the first place, from an insufficient understanding of their mechanism of action. Some of them (pirbuterol, salbutamol, terbutaline, penoterol) seem to act preferentially on B2 adrenergic receptors and the haemodynamic effect results, in part or predominantly, from the vasodilator action which they cause. On the other hand, other agents (prenalterol, ICI 108-87) show a relative selectivity for B1 adrenergic receptors. Ibopamine exerts its action on B1 receptors and dopaminergic receptors. A second problem concerns the hypothetical character of their long term therapeutic activity. A major problem in the use of several of these sympathomimetic agents in chronic treatment is the appearance of a desensitization of the beta receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Rectosigmoid motility response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome.

Patients with the irritable bowel syndrome were studied with regard to the effects of beta-adrenoceptor agonists on rectosigmoid motility. Pressure was recorded with a continuously inflated balloon in the upper rectum and recorded from a pressure catheter in the sigmoid colon. On different days the beta-2 agonist terbutaline, the beta-1 agonist prenalterol, and placebo, respectively, were administered intravenously after a control period. During each examination contractile activity was quantified for three consecutive periods of 25 min. Terbutaline in a total dose of 0.50 mg decreased sigmoid motility index significantly from 3.0 +/- 0.6 (SEM) to 1.1 +/- 0.3 kPa X min (p less than 0.01). After less than or equal to 5 mg prenalterol no significant changes of motility index were observed. After placebo an increase, although not significant, in contractile activity was seen compared with the initial control period. Rectal motility indices were low and not changed by the beta agonists. The serum concentrations of the drugs were within the therapeutic limits used in clinical practice and caused a dose-dependent increase of both systolic blood pressure and heart rate. It is concluded that beta-2 adrenoceptor stimulation significantly decreases sigmoid motility whereas the motility index seems to be unaffected by beta-1 adrenergic stimulation.

Failure of beta-adrenergic stimulation to affect cholecystokinin-stimulated sigmoid motility in man.

Sigmoid motility, stimulated by the octapeptide of cholecystokinin (OP-CCK) and the effects of beta-adrenoceptor agonists, was studied in 12 healthy subjects in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Sigmoid pressure was recorded 18-20 cm from the anus, and contractile activity quantified as the area under pressure waves for three 25-min periods. OP-CCK (sincalide), 80 ng X kg-1 X h-1, was continuously infused throughout each session, resulting in a high sigmoid motility index. Preceded by a control period, terbutaline (beta-2 agonist), prenalterol (beta-1 agonist), or placebo was injected on 3 separate days. After 1 mg + 4 mg prenalterol or 0.25 mg + 0.25 mg terbutaline intravenously no significant changes in motility pattern were seen compared with the control period. Terbutaline and prenalterol infusions were followed by a dose-dependent increase of systolic blood pressure and heart rate. After placebo no effect on blood pressure or heart rate was seen. The study shows that CCK significantly enhances sigmoid motility in man and that selective beta-adrenergic agonists do not show any inhibitory influence on colonic motility stimulated with CCK. Since terbutaline inhibits sigmoid and rectal motility in man during rectal distention, it is suggested that the inhibitory effect of beta-2-adrenoceptor agonists may be dependent on the mode of background stimulation of the colon.