Urea and 2-imidazolidone derivatives of the muscarinic agents oxotremorine and N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-4-pyrrolidino-2-butynyl)acetamide.

Some urea and 2-imidazolidone analogues of the muscarinic agents oxotremorine (1) and N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-4-pyrrolidino-2-butynyl)acetamide [10; BM-5] have been synthesized and assayed for muscarinic and antimuscarinic activity on the isolated guinea pig ileum. The new compounds (15-24) were found to be muscarinic agonists, partial agonists, or antagonists. The compounds were also tested for in vitro receptor binding to homogenates of the rat cerebral cortex using the muscarinic antagonist [3H]-3-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) as the ligand. They were found to be less potent than 1 in this assay. On the guinea pig ileum, the N-3-methyl substituted imidazolidone analogue 20 was the most potent agonist of the new compounds studied; 20 was 5-fold more potent in inducing contractions of the ileum and had 4-fold higher affinity for ileal muscarinic receptors than the 3-methyl substituted 2-pyrrolidone 6. However, the N-3-unsubstituted urea and imidazolidone derivatives 15 and 19 were several-fold less potent than the parent acetamide N-methyl-N-(4-pyrrolidino-2-butynyl)acetamide [9; UH-5] and 1, respectively. The urea analogue (16) of the partial muscarinic agonist 10 was devoid of intrinsic activity and displayed 3-fold lower affinity than 10 for ileal muscarinic receptors.     

Muscarinic ganglionic stimulants: conformationally restrained analogues related to [4-[[N-(3-chlorophenyl)carbamoyl]oxy]-2-butynyl]trimethylammonium chloride

The synthesis of a series of tertiary and quaternary cyclic analogues (isoarecolinol, dihydroisoarecolinol, arecolinol, and 3-pyrroline-3-carbinol derivatives) of [4-[[N-(3-chlorophenyl)carbamoyl]oxy]-2-butynyl]trimethylammonium chloride (McN-A-343) (1), a selective stimulant of muscarinic receptors in sympathetic ganglia (so-called M1 receptors), is reported. The compounds 3-10 were tested for muscarinic ganglion-stimulating activity by recording blood pressure responses in pithed rats. All tertiary compounds tested had no ganglion-stimulating activity. Among the series of quaternary derivatives, only the isoarecolinol analogues 4a and 4b showed considerable ganglion-stimulating effects, whereas the dihydroisoarecolinol (8), the arecolinol (6a, 6b), and the 3-pyrroline-3-carbinol derivatives (10) were much less potent. Our experiments therefore demonstrate that in this series a quaternary nitrogen atom, unsaturation at C2 of the ammonium side chain, and a certain spatial arrangement of the ammonium and the phenylcarbamate groups are essential for potent M1-receptor stimulating activity.     

Dimethylsulfonium analogues of the muscarinic agent McN-A-343: [4-[[N-(3- or 4-halophenyl)carbamoyl]oxy]-2-butynyl] dimethylsulfonium perchlorates

Some 3- and 4-bromophenyl and dimethylsulfonium analogues of the muscarinic agent [4-[[N-(3-chlorophenyl)-carbamoyl]oxy]-2-butynyl] trimethylammonium chloride (McN-A-343) (1) were synthesized. The new compounds were assayed for effects on arterial blood pressure in the pithed rat (ganglionic muscarinic activity). The dimethylsulfonium salts (13a-d) appeared to be partial agonists in relation to 1. The 4-bromophenyl-substituted trimethylammonium iodide 10d exceeded 1 in potency by 3-fold. The compounds retained the selectivity for ganglionic muscarinic receptors shown by 1 since they had only weak effects on the guinea pig ileum in vitro.     

Tertiary 2-haloethylamine derivatives of the muscarinic agent McN-A-343, [4-[[N-(3-chlorophenyl)carbamoyl]oxy]-2-butynyl]trimethylammonium chloride

4-[(2-Chloroethyl)methylamino]-2-butynyl N-(3-chlorophenyl)carbamate (2) and 4-[(2-bromoethyl)methylamino]-2-butynyl N-(3-chlorophenyl)carbamate (3) were synthesized. Compounds 2 and 3 cyclized at neutral pH to an aziridinium ion (4). The rate constants for the cyclization of 2 and 3 at 37 degrees C were about 0.01 and 0.4 min-1, respectively, as measured by titrimetric analysis and by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The aziridinium ion had 1/4 the potency of McN-A-343 (1) as a ganglionic muscarinic stimulant in the anesthetized, pentolinium-treated rat but showed no muscarinic effects on the isolated guinea pig ileum. It caused alkylation of muscarinic receptors in homogenates of the rat cerebral cortex. An irreversible blockade of central muscarinic receptors was also observed after intravenous administration of 3 to mice. Because of its selectivity, irreversible actions, and ability to pass into the central nervous system, 3 should become a valuable tool in studies of muscarinic receptors.     

Resolved pyrrolidine, piperidine, and perhydroazepine analogues of the muscarinic agent N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-4-pyrrolidino-2-butynyl)acetamide

A series of conformationally restricted analogues of the partial muscarinic agonist N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-4-pyrrolidino-2-butynyl)acetamide (BM 5; 1) was synthesized. Three of the racemic derivatives were resolved into the enantiomers. The compounds were investigated for muscarinic and antimuscarinic activity in the isolated guinea pig ileum. They were found to be fairly potent muscarinic antagonists or weak partial agonists. The new compounds were either equally or less potent than 1 in inhibiting (-)-[3H]-N-methylscopolamine binding in homogenates of the rat cerebral cortex. Thus, structural modifications to 1 in which the amide moiety and the methyl group in the butynyl chain have been joined to form a six- or seven-membered ring preserve affinity but abolish efficacy. The R enantiomers were found to have 14-79 times higher affinity to ileal muscarinic receptors than the respective antipodes. The enantiomeric affinity ratios were nearly identical in both preparations studied. As suggested by molecular mechanics calculations, the difference in affinity between the five-membered and the six- and seven-membered ring analogues may be rationalized in conformational terms.     

Cardioselectivity of AQ-RA 741, a novel tricyclic antimuscarinic drug

The interaction of the AF-DX 116 analogue, AQ-RA 741 (11-[[4-[4-(diethylamino)butyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11- dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b] [1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one), with muscarinic receptors, in vitro and in vivo, was examined. In radioligand binding studies, AQ-RA 741 showed high affinity for cardiac M2 sites (pKi = 8.30), intermediate affinity for cortical M1 sites (pKi = 7.70) and low affinity for glandular M3 sites (pKi = 6.82). Functional studies showed AQ-RA 741 to be a competitive antagonist and to have a 60 to 87-fold higher affinity for cardiac muscarinic receptors than for muscarinic receptors in intestinal, tracheal or bladder smooth muscle. In vivo experiments confirmed the M2 selectivity of AQ-RA 741. In rats, cats and guinea-pigs AQ-RA 741 preferentially inhibited the vagally or agonist-induced bradycardia (-log ID50 = 7.24-7.53 i.v.). The ratio of potencies observed between effects mediated by cardiac and other muscarinic receptor ranged between 9- and more than 100-fold. The results show that AQ-RA 741 is a potent and selective M2 antagonist with remarkable in vivo selectivity.     

Novel functional M1 selective muscarinic agonists. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 3-(1,2,5-thiadiazolyl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyridines .

A series of novel 3-(3-substituted-1,2,5-thiadiazol-4-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro- 1-methylpyridines (substituted-TZTP; 5a-l, 7a-h, 8, 9c-n, 11, 13j) were synthesized and tested for central muscarinic cholinergic receptor affinity by using [3H]-oxotremorine-M (Oxo-M) and [3H]-pirenzepine (Pz) as ligands. The potency and efficacy of the compounds for the pharmacological defined M1 and M2 muscarinic receptors were determined on isolated electrically stimulated rabbit vas deferens and on spontaneously beating isolated guinea pig atria, respectively. Selected compounds were also tested for M3 activity in the isolated guinea pig ileum. The C1-8 alkoxy-TZTP 5a-l analogues all displaced [3H]-Oxo-M and [3H]-Pz with low nanomolar affinity. Depicting chain length against Oxo-M binding and against Pz binding the unbranched C1-8 alkoxy-TZTP (5a-h) derivatives produced U-shaped curves with butoxy- (5d) and (pentyloxy)-TZTP (5e) as the optimum chain length, respectively. This U-shaped curve was also seen in the ability of the compounds 5a-h to inhibit the twitch height in the vas deferens preparation. The (pentyloxy)- (5e) and the (hexyloxy)-TZTP (5f) analogues produced an over 90% inhibition of the twitch height with IC50 values in the low picomolar range. In both the atria and in the ileum preparations 5f had low efficacy and potency. With the (alkylthio)-TZTP (7a-h) analogues the structure-activity relationship was similar to the one observed with the alkoxy (5a-h) analogues, but generally 7a-h had higher receptor affinity and was more potent than the corresponding 5a-h. However, the C3-8 alkyl-TZTP (9c,e,g,h) analogues had 10-100 times lower affinity for the central muscarinic receptors than the corresponding alkoxy and alkylthio derivatives, and their efficacy in the vas deferens preparation was too low to obtain IC50 values. The unsubstituted TZTP (11) compound was a potent but nonselective muscarinic agonist. The two 3-(3-butoxy/(hexyloxy)-1,2,5-oxadiazol-4-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahy dro-1- methylpyridines (butoxy/hexyloxy)-OZTP; 19a/b) were also synthesized and tested. Both 19a and 19b had much lower affinity for the central muscarinic receptors than 5d and 5f, and the efficacy of 19a,b was too low to give IC50 values in the vas deferens preparation. Therefore, the C5-6 (alkyloxy)/(alkylthio)-TZTP's represent a unique series of potent functional M1 selective muscarinic agonists.     

Beta-lactam analogues of oxotremorine. 3- and 4-methyl-substituted 2-azetidinones

Four beta-lactam analogues (8-11) of oxotremorine were synthesized and assayed for muscarinic and antimuscarinic activity on the isolated guinea pig ileum. The pharmacological results were compared with those obtained previously with the beta-lactam analogue 7 and the 3-, 4-, and 5-methyl-substituted 2-pyrrolidones 2-6. The new compounds were less potent than the corresponding 2-pyrrolidones, regardless of whether they showed agonist (10 and 11), partial agonist (8), or antagonist properties (9) in the ileum assay. The agonists 10 and 11 were about 200-fold less potent than 7. Compounds 8-11 also were less potent than the similarly substituted 2-pyrrolidones in inhibiting the binding of the muscarinic antagonist (-)-[3H]-N-methylscopolamine in homogenates of the rat cerebral cortex.     

Synthesis and muscarinic activity of a series of tertiary and quaternary N-substituted guvacine esters structurally related to arecoline and arecaidine propargyl ester

A series of tertiary and quaternary N-substituted guvacine (1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-3-carboxy-pyridine) methyl and propargyl esters have been synthesized and tested for muscarinic/antimuscarinic activity on rat ileum and electrically paced left atria. Arecoline and arecaidine propargyl ester (APE) as well as their corresponding N-demethyl derivatives, guvacoline (norarecoline) and guvacine propargyl ester, acted as full agonists at both atrial and ileal muscarinic receptors (range of pD2-values 6.09-8.07). However, in both preparations arecoline and APE were clearly more potent (up to 15-fold) than their N-demethyl analogues. Replacement of the N-methyl group in arecoline and APE by larger substituents (ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, benzyl, phenylethyl) as well as N-methylation resulted in a decrease or even a complete loss of agonistic activity. In both organs, the propargyl esters usually showed higher potency than the corresponding methyl ester analogues. N-Ethylguvacine propargyl ester and APE methiodide displayed pronounced agonistic activity in the atria (pD2 approximately 6.5; intrinsic activity = 0.79 and 0.67, respectively) but behaved as competitive antagonists in the ileum (pA2 = 6.06 and 5.62, respectively). Beside the lower sensitivity to muscarinic agonists of the rat ileum as compared to rat atria, the cardioselective stimulant action of both agents may also be due to their ability to recognize structural differences between atrial M2 alpha and ileal M2 beta muscarinic receptor subtypes.     

Functionalized congener approach to muscarinic antagonists: analogues of pirenzepine

The M1-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist pirenzepine 6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one) was derivatized to explore points of attachment of functionalized side chains for the synthesis of receptor probes and ligands for affinity chromatography. The analogues prepared were evaluated in competitive binding assays versus [3H]-N-methylscopolamine at four muscarinic receptor subtypes (m1AChR-m4AChR) in membranes from rat heart tissue and transfected A9L cells. 9-(Hydroxymethyl)pirenzepine, 8-(methylthio)pirenzepine, and a series of 8-aminosulfonyl derivatives were synthesized. Several 5-substituted analogues of pirenzepine also were prepared. An alternate series of analogues substituted on the 4-position of the piperazine ring was prepared by reaction of 4-desmethylpirenzepine with various electrophiles. An N-chloroethyl analogue of pirenzepine was shown to form a reactive aziridine species in aqueous buffer yet failed to affinity label muscarinic receptors. Within a series of aminoalkyl analogues, the affinity increased as the length of the alkyl chain increased. Shorter chain analogues were generally much less potent than pirenzepine, and longer analogues (7-10 carbons) were roughly as potent as pirenzepine at m1 receptors, but were nonselective. Depending on the methylene chain length, acylation or alkyl substitution of the terminal amine also influenced the affinity at muscarinic receptors.     

Muscarinic cholinergic agonists and antagonists of the 3-(3-alkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine type. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships

A series of 3-(3-alkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyr idines (2a-q) were synthesized and tested for central muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding affinity by using [3H]oxotremorine-M and [3H]QNB as ligands and in a functional assay using guinea pig ileum. The analogues with unbranched C1-8-alkyl substituents (2a-g) were agonists, whereas the compounds with branched or cyclic substituents (2h-m) were antagonists. The alkyl ether analogues (2o-q) were also agonists but had lower receptor binding affinity than the corresponding alkyl analogues. The 3-(5-alkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyridi ne analogues had only ver low affinity for the central muscarinic receptors and were weak antagonists in the ileum assay. A few 3-(3-butyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylpyr idines substituted with methyl or hydrogen in the 1-, 5-, or 6-position were synthesized and tested. N-Desmethyl analogue 7 was a potent muscarinic agonist, whereas N-desmethyl-5-methyl analogue 11 and N-methyl-6-methyl analogue 13 both were antagonists with lower muscarinic receptor affinity. The 3-(3-butyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)quinuclidine (17) and tropane (15) analogues were both very potent antagonists with high affinity for central muscarinic receptors. The ratio [IC50(QNB)/IC50(Oxo-M)] x 0.162 proved to be a good indicator of the efficacy of the compounds in the guinea pig ileum assay.     

Structure-activity relationship studies on a novel series of (S)-2beta-substituted 3alpha-[bis(4-fluoro- or 4-chlorophenyl)methoxy]tropane analogues for in vivo investigation

In general, 3alpha-(diphenylmethoxy)tropane (benztropine)-based dopamine uptake inhibitors do not demonstrate cocaine-like pharmacological activity in models of psychostimulant abuse and have been proposed as potential medications for the treatment of cocaine addiction. However, several (S)-2-carboalkoxy-substituted-3alpha-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]tropane analogues were discovered to stimulate locomotor activity and substitute in subjects trained to discriminate cocaine, suggesting a role of the 2-position substituent in mediating these cocaine-like actions. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a series of novel N- and 2-substituted-3alpha-[bis(4-fluoro- or 4-chlorophenyl)methoxy]tropane analogues. Most of these analogues demonstrated high affinity binding to the dopamine transporter (DAT; K(i) = 1.8-40 nM), and selectivity over the other monoamine transporters and muscarinic M(1) receptors. When the (S)-2-carboalkoxy substituent was replaced with (S)-2-ethenyl, the resulting analogue 11 demonstrated the highest DAT binding affinity in the series (K(i) = 1.81 nM) with DAT selectivity over serotonin transporters (SERT; 989-fold), norepinephrine transporters (NET; 261-fold) and muscarinic receptors (90-fold). When the 4'-F groups of compounds 5 (K(i) = 2.94 nM) and 8 (K(i) = 6.87 nM) were replaced with 4'-Cl in the (S)-2-carboalkoxy series, DAT binding affinities were slightly reduced (K(i) = 12.6 and 14.6 nM for 6 and 7, respectively), yet inhibition of dopamine uptake potency remained comparably high (IC(50) range = 1.5-2.5 nM). Interestingly, the 4'-Cl analogue (+/-)-6 substituted less in rats trained to discriminate cocaine than the 4'-F analogue (+/-)-5. These studies demonstrate that manipulation of the 2-, N-, and 3-position substituents in the 3alpha-(diphenylmethoxy)tropane class of dopamine uptake inhibitors can result in ligands with high affinity and selectivity for the DAT, and distinctive in vivo pharmacological profiles that cannot be predicted by their effects in vitro.     

Synthesis and adenosine receptor affinity of a series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine analogues of 1-methylisoguanosine

Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines are pyrazolo analogues of purines. They have been shown to be a general class of compounds which exhibit A1 adenosine receptor affinity. Two series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine analogues of 1-methylisoguanosine have been synthesized. The first involved substitution of the N1-position while the second involved substitution of the N5-position. Both alkyl and aryl substituents were examined. All compounds were tested for A1 adenosine receptor affinity by using a (R)-[3H]-N6-(phenylisopropyl)adenosine binding assay. The 3-chlorophenyl group showed the greatest activity in the N1-position and the butyl group produced the greatest activity in the N5-position. Combination of the best substituent in each of these positions enhanced the overall activity. The most potent compound was 4-amino-5-N-butyl-1-(3-chlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-6(5H)- one with an IC50 of 6.4 x 10(-6) M. Selectivity at the receptor subclasses was examined by performing an A2 adenosine receptor affinity assay with [3H]CGS 21680. This series of compounds were slightly less potent at A2 receptors. 4-Amino-5-N-butyl-1-(3-chlorophenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-6(5H)-one was the most potent compound with an IC50 of 19.2 x 10(-6) M.     

The action of (±)L-660,863 [(±)3-(3-amino-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-yl)-quinuclidine] at muscarinic receptor subtypes in vitro

1. The muscarinic pharmacology of a novel oxadiazole muscarinic agonist, (+/-) L-660,863, [+/-3-(3-amino-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-yl)-quinuclidine] has been studied using pharmacological, radioligand binding and biochemical techniques, in vitro. 2. In isolated tissue experiments, (+/-)L-660,863 was a more potent agonist than carbachol in all preparations studied, being most potent at muscarinic receptors mediating negative chronotropy in guinea-pig right, spontaneously beating atria and least potent at receptors mediating contractions in canine saphenous vein and endothelial denuded rabbit aorta (-log EC50 values were 8.8, 6.6 and 6.3, respectively. The apparent affinities (-log KA) of (+/-)L-660,863) estimated by receptor inactivation, showed some selectivity toward the atrial M2 muscarinic receptor (-log KA = 7.6) in comparison to the M1 or M3 muscarinic receptors (-log KA = 5.4 and 6.2) respectively. This degree of selectivity was also observed in competition radioligand binding studies. 3. At M3 muscarinic receptors mediating inositol phosphates (IPs) accumulation in longitudinal muscle of guinea-pig ileum, the potency of (+/-)L-660,863 (-log EC50 value = 6.2) was similar to the apparent affinity calculated at M3 muscarinic receptors in the functional studies (see above). In contrast, at muscarinic receptors mediating IPs accumulation in guinea-pig atria and ventricles, the potency for (+/-)L-660,863 (-log EC50 = 6.2 and 6.4, respectively) was lower than the apparent affinity calculated at M2 muscarinic receptors from inotropic and binding studies in cardiac tissue (see above).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Structure-activity relationships of dimethindene derivatives as new M2-selective muscarinic receptor antagonists

A series of 2,3-disubstituted indenes, which are analogues of the widely used histamine H(1) receptor antagonist dimethindene, have been synthesized and studied as muscarinic and histamine receptor antagonists. The affinities of these compounds for the five human muscarinic receptor subtypes (M(1)-M(5)) and for human histamine H(1) receptors were determined in radioligand binding studies using membranes from transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and [(3)H]N-methylscopolamine ([(3)H]NMS). The results demonstrate that the diisopropyl analogue 19 has a similar high affinity as (S)-dimethindene at M(2) receptors ((S)-dimethindene: pK(i) = 7.52; (-)-19: pK(i) = 7.37) with an improved selectivity pattern ((S)-dimethindene: M(2)/M(1) = 6-fold, M(2)/M(3) = 5-fold, M(2)/M(4) = 10-fold, M(2)/M(5) = 25-fold; (-)-19: M(2)/M(1) = 36-fold, M(2)/M(3) = 96-fold, M(2)/M(4) = 42-fold, M(2)/M(5) = 275-fold). In addition, compound (-)-19 showed 35-fold lower affinity at histamine H(1) receptors (pK(i) = 5.61) than (S)-dimethindene (pK(i) = 7.16). Another interesting compound is the fluoroethyl derivative 20 (pK(i)/M(2) = 7.49), which also exhibits a higher M(2) selectivity (M(2)/M(1) = 19-fold; M(2)/M(3) = 22-fold; M(2)/M(4) = 13-fold; M(2)/M(5) = 62-fold) than (S)-dimethindene. Unfortunately, compound 20 also shows a high affinity for histamine H(1) receptors (pK(i) = 8.14). The compound with the highest affinity for M(2) receptors (pK(i) = 7.91), the dimethylaminomethylene analogue 31, displayed only a small preference for M(2) receptors. In conclusion, compound (-)-19 might be useful to test the hypothesis that blockade of muscarinic M(2) receptors in the brain is a viable mechanism by which to produce improved cognition. This second-generation dimethindene analogue might also be the starting point for the development of M(2)-selective muscarinic antagonists useful for quantifying M(2) receptors in the central nervous system with positron emission tomography imaging.     

Selective blockade in vivo of cardiac muscarinic M2 receptors by a polymethylene tetramine, BHC-9C

The antimuscarinic effects of BHC-9C (N,N'-bis[6-[(2-methoxybenzyl)amino]hexyl]-1,9-nonanediamine tetrahydrochloride), a member of a series of polymethylene tetraamines with unprecedented in vitro selectivity for cardiac muscarinic M2 receptors, were assessed in several in vivo test systems. BHC-9C (300 micrograms/kg i.v.) proved to be a potent antagonist at cardiac M2 receptors that mediate the decrease in heart rate in the pithed rat. In contrast, it displayed no considerable blocking activity at vascular M2 receptors subserving vasodepression and at ganglionic M1 receptors that mediate cardiovascular stimulation in the anaesthetized and pithed rat, respectively. These in vivo data are consistent with the suggestion based on in vitro experiments that BHC-9C is a highly selective antagonist of cardiac muscarinic M2 receptors.     

Autoradiographic analyses of agonist binding to muscarinic receptor subtypes

The binding of four muscarinic receptor agonists to regions of rat brain was examined through quantitative autoradiographic techniques. Oxotremorine, arecoline, pilocarpine and bethanechol were chosen based on their different potencies and efficacies in muscarinic second messenger systems. Overall, the order of potency for inhibition of [3H]-l-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]-l-QNB) binding to rat brain slices was oxotremorine greater than pilocarpine = arecoline much greater than bethanechol. Regional assays of agonist potency indicated that all agonists were more selective for brainstem and thalamic regions than for hippocampal and cortical regions. The high selectivity of agonists for areas such as the paraventricular thalamus and the superior colliculus, which also display low affinity for pirenzepine, suggests that muscarinic agonists bind with higher affinity to M2 receptors. Of the four agonists examined, pilocarpine displayed the lowest selectivity for M2 receptors in that IC50 values for pilocarpine were only 3-fold higher in the hippocampal and striatal regions (e.g. CA3: 40.6 +/- 9.4 microM) than in thalamic and brainstem regions (e.g. paraventricular thalamus: 14.9 +/- 6.2 microM). Oxotremorine was 8-fold more potent in the brainstem and thalamus, while arecoline and bethanechol were, respectively, 19- and 100-fold more selective for brainstem and thalamic receptors. Scatchard analyses revealed heterogeneous binding profiles for some agonists within single brain regions, suggesting that multiple agonist sites exist even within regions of predominantly M1 or M2 receptors. For example, arecoline displayed curved Scatchard plots within the external layers of the cerebral cortex, layer CA1 of the hippocampus (predominantly M1 subtype), and the paraventricular thalamus (predominantly M2 subtype). The ability of agonists to recognize multiple sites within a single region may reflect the ability to recognize receptors coupled or uncoupled to second messenger systems through G-proteins.     

Chemical and biochemical studies of 2-propynylpyrrolidine derivatives. Restricted-rotation analogues of N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-4-pyrrolidino-2-butynyl)acetamide (BM-5)

A series of optically pure 2-[substituted-3-aminopropynyl]pyrrolidine derivatives, which are restricted-rotation analogues of the muscarinic agent N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-4-pyrrolidino-2-butynyl)acetamide (BM-5, compound 1), have been prepared from d- and l-proline. The compounds when tested in a series of in vitro muscarinic assays [[3H]CD (cortex), [3H]QNB (cortex), [3H]PZ (cortex), [3H]QNB (heart), [3H]QNB + GppNHp (heart)] were found to have weaker muscarinic properties than compound 1. The decrease in affinity was attributed to the increased size of the molecule resulting from the addition of a methylene group to form the pyrrolidine ring. The use of optically active compounds provided a more detailed examination of the complex pharmacological effects of the flexible muscarinic agent 1. The R enantiomers in the acetamide derivatives 12b, 12d, and 12f had a 5-10-fold greater affinity for the muscarinic receptor than the corresponding S enantiomers. A 5-fold difference or less found in the (R)- and (S)-carbamate derivatives 9, 15, and 16 suggested close overlap of the two enantiomers in the receptor binding domain. The affinity differences found in the enantiomeric acetamido derivatives when compared to those of the carbamate analogues may be the result of limited rotation of the acetamido group.     

Inactivation of brain cortex muscarinic receptors by 4-diphenylacetoxy-1-(2-chloroethyl) piperidine mustard.

We demonstrated in this study that 4-DAMP [4-diphenylacetoxy-1-(2- chloroethyl) piperidine] mustard, which cyclizes to the aziridinium ion, behaved as a non-selective, non-competitive inhibitor of muscarinic receptors in rat brain cortex. It inactivated to the same extent the M1, M2 and M4 muscarinic receptors present in this tissue, as well as receptors accessible or not accessible to quaternary antimuscarinic drugs. Under mild incubation conditions, the muscarinic receptors in a state with super high affinity for agonists (SH receptors) were less affected by preactivated 4-DAMP mustard than the receptors in the states with lower affinity for agonists (H and L receptors).     

Binding affinities of hexahydro-difenidol and hexahydro-sila-difenidol analogues at four muscarinic receptor subtypes: constitutional and stereochemical aspects

Hexahydro-sila-difenidol and eight analogues behaved as simple competitive inhibitors of [3H]N-methyl-scopolamine binding to homogenates from human neuroblastoma NB-OK 1 cells (M1 sites), rat heart (M2 sites), rat pancreas (M3 sites), and rat striatum 'B' sites (M4 sites). Pyrrolidino- and hexamethyleneimino analogues showed the same selectivity profile as the parent compound. Hexahydro-sila-difenidol methiodide and the methiodide of p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol had a higher affinity but a lower selectivity than the tertiary amines. Compounds containing a p-methoxy, p-chloro or p-fluoro substituent in the phenyl ring of hexahydro-sila-difenidol showed a qualitatively similar selectivity profile as the parent compound (i.e., M1 = M3 = M4 greater than M2), but up to 16-fold lower affinities. o-Methoxy-hexahydro-sila-difenidol has a lower affinity than hexahydro-sila-difenidol at the four binding sites. Its selectivity profile (M4 greater than M1, M3 greater than M2) was different from hexahydro-sila-difenidol. Replacement of the central silicon atom of hexahydro-sila-difenidol, p-fluoro-hexahydro-sila-difenidol and their quaternary (N-methylated) analogues by a carbon atom did not change their binding affinities significantly. The four muscarinic receptors showed a higher affinity for the (R)- than for the (S)-enantiomers of hexahydro-difenidol, p-fluorohexahydro-difenidol and their methiodides. The stereoselectivity varied depending on the receptor subtype and drug considered.