Novel benzamides as selective and potent gastric prokinetic agents. 1. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of N-[(2-morpholinyl)alkyl]benzamides

With the purpose of obtaining more potent and selective gastric prokinetic than metoclopramide (1), a new series of N-[(2-morpholinyl)alkyl]benzamides (17-52) were synthesized and their gastric prokinetic activity was evaluated by determining effects on the gastric emptying of phenol red semisolid meal and of resin pellets solid meal in rats and mice. The morpholinyl moiety was newly designed after consideration of the side-chain structure of cisapride (2) and produced the desired activity when coupled with the 4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoyl group of both metoclopramide and cisapride. Modification of the substituents of the benzoyl group markedly influenced the activity. In particular, 4-amino-N-[(4-benzyl-2-morpholinyl)methyl]-5-chloro-2-methoxybenzamide (17) and the 4-(dimethylamino) and 2-ethoxy analogues (25 and 29) of 17 showed potent and selective gastric prokinetic activity along with a weak dopamine D2 receptor antagonistic activity.     

FR112123, a new oligopeptide antibiotic from Streptomyces viridochromogenes. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties, structure and biological activity

FR112123 is a new oligopeptide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces viridochromogenes No. 7587. The structure of FR112123 is elucidated as N-(N6-(N2-glycyl-L-glutaminyl)-D-lysyl)-D-alanine (1) by spectroscopic and chemical evidence. It resembles a partial structure of peptidoglycan in bacteria. The compound has a superior activity against an Escherichia coli mutant sensitive to inhibitors of cell wall synthesis, although it has a weak activity against the parent strain. These suggest that FR112123 might act on the biosynthesis of bacterial cell wall.     

Chronic haloperidol and chlorpromazine treatment alters in vitro beta-endorphin metabolism in rat brain

To determine if chronic haloperidol (3.0 mg/kg per day) or chlorpromazine (4.2 mg/kg per day) treatment alters central beta-endorphin metabolism, haloperidol and chlorpromazine were perfused via Alzet minipumps into male Sprague-Dawley rats for 8 days. Crude twice-washed membranes, purified synaptic plasma membranes and Golgi-enriched membranes, respectively, were isolated from rat brains and time course incubated with beta-endorphin. All samples were analyzed by high resolution, reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The half-lives of beta-endorphin for animals treated with haloperidol or chlorpromazine were not statistically different from control animals at the crude washed membranes. At the purified synaptic plasma membranes, however, the half-lives of beta-endorphin from haloperidol (t 1/2 = 45.1 min)- and chlorpromazine (t1/2 = 47.0 min)-treated animals were significantly decreased as compared to the control animals (t1/2 = 78.0 min). The half-life of beta-endorphin at the Golgi-enriched membranes was increased for haloperidol (t1/2 = 112.3 min) and chlorpromazine (t1/2 = 103.0 min)-treated animals when compared to control animals (t1/2 = 80.2 min). The findings indicate a differential effect of the dopamine receptor antagonists haloperidol and chlorpromazine on the extracellular fate at the synaptic plasma membranes of beta-endorphin and the intracellular processing at the Golgi-enriched membranes in vitro.     

Influence of ouabain on the tracheal musculature of the dog

The effects of ouabain on the smooth muscles of the airway were investigated in anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated mongrel dogs. Ouabain (30 micrograms/kg, i.v.) caused a constriction of the tracheal smooth muscle which was followed by bradycardia. When ouabain was infused at a rate of 2 micrograms/kg/min (i.v.), the tracheal constriction was induced by a total dose of 45.0 +/- 5.5 micrograms/kg, while the bradycardia appeared with a total dose of 54.4 +/- 6.1 micrograms/kg. The ouabain-induced tracheal constriction was inhibited by bilateral vagotomy. The tracheal constriction induced by i.a. infusion of 10 microM ouabain into the bilateral cranial thyroid arteries was inhibited by bilateral vagotomy, but it was not completely blocked. With bilateral vagotomy, the tracheal constriction induced by i.a. infusion of ouabain was unaffected by 3 microM hexamethonium, but it was significantly inhibited by 1 microM atropine. These results suggest that ouabain may induce tracheal constriction by a neurogenic action in addition to its action via the augmentation of the vagal reflex, and the neurogenic action of ouabain may be related, in large part, to the release of acetylcholine from the presynapses of vagus nerves in dogs.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a series of dibenzo[a,d]cycloalkenimines as N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists.

A series of 73 dibenzo[a,d]cycloalkenimines were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to displace (+)-10,11-dihydro-5-methyl-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine ([3H]-(+)-10) from its specific binding site on rat cortical membranes. A number of the more active compounds (Ki ranging from 0.006 to 0.21 microM) were evaluated for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist activity in the rat cortical slice (Kb ranging from 0.08 to 0.9 microM) and anticonvulsant activity in the mouse against NMDA induced convulsions. The ED50 values ranged from 0.22 to 7.76 mg/kg and correlated reasonably well with the Kb determination. In the dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine series, the (+)-5S,10R enantiomer displayed consistently higher levels of biological activity. While substitution at the 3-position of (+)-10 with electronegative atoms generally increased in vitro activity, a loss of potency relative to (+)-10 (MK-801) was observed in vivo for all of the compounds tested.     

The effects of LY-201116 [4-amino-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl) benzamide] on the amygdala-kindled rat

The effects of LY-201116, a 4-aminobenzamide, were examined in rats using the amygdala kindling model, both during acquisition of the kindled response and in fully kindled animals. Dose-response and time-response studies for efficacy and rotorod toxicity were completed following intraperitoneal injection of the drug. Afterdischarge duration, behavioral seizure response, kindled seizure threshold and EEG recordings were used to assess efficacy and toxicity of the drug. In the acquisition trial, the drug (7.5 mg/Kg) did not significantly alter the number of stimulations required to produce the first stage 5 kindled response nor did it modify afterdischarge durations. Doses of 11.25 and 15 mg/Kg suppressed afterdischarge and diminished behavioral responses significantly in fully kindled rats, but these doses were also neurotoxic as judged by rotorod performance. The non-selective anticonvulsant effect of 11.25 mg/Kg lasted at least 90 min. A dose of 15 mg/Kg raised kindled seizure threshold and diminished afterdischarge duration. Doses of 20, 30 and 40 mg/Kg produced spontaneous EEG spikes and seizures accompanied by behavioral convulsions. The drug thus exhibited non-selective anticonvulsant effects in fully kindled rats following doses of 11.25 or 15 mg/Kg, but exhibited proconvulsant activity following doses in the range of 20-40 mg/Kg.     

Inhibitory and regulatory binding sites on the rat brain serotonin transporter: molecular weight of the [3H]paroxetine and [3H]citalopram binding proteins

Citalopram binds with high affinity to a specific binding site located on the serotonin (5-HT) transporter in 5-HT neurons. The binding affinity of [3H]citalopram was found to increase with increasing concentration of citalopram. This may be a homotropic positive allosteric effect, thus indicating the presence of an allosteric binding site for citalopram. The molecular weight of the proteins containing the high-affinity binding sites for citalopram and paroxetine, as well as the allosteric binding site for citalopram were determined by the irradiation method. The molecular weights of the three binding site proteins were found to be the same, suggesting that all three binding sites are located on the same protein molecule in the 5-HT transporter. The results support a hypothesis that the binding area for [3H]citalopram is located deeper in the transport channel than the [3H]paroxetine binding area. Thus the two high-affinity binding sites probably cover different, but overlapping, parts of the protein molecule. The allosteric binding site may be located elsewhere on the protein where it induces conformational changes of the 5-HT transporter with the result that high-affinity bound ligands get trapped in the transport channel, thereby explaining the increase in affinity.     

Anesthesia in elderly patients: results of an INSERM survey

This study analyses the results of a national prospective inquiry, made in France between 1978 and 1982, with regard to patients over 60-year-old. In this group, including 20% of all surgical patients, occur 54% of all complications and 65% of all cardiac arrests related to anaesthesia (partially or totally). The complications are mainly circulatory and less often respiratory. Among the latter the major events are unrecognized ventilatory depression and aspiration of gastric content during recovery period. These data substantiate the necessity of an adequately staffed and equipped recovery room.