Some central effects of CGP 37849 and CGP 39551, the competitive NMDA receptor antagonists: potential antiparkinsonian activity

Summary Two new competitive NMDA receptor antagonists with oral activity CGP 37849 (D,L-E-amino-methyl-phosphono-3-pentenoic acid) and its ethyl ester CGP 39551 were studied in rats. CGP 37849 did not change the locomotor activity or increased it. The hyperactivity induced by CGP 37849 was antagonized by haloperidol but not idazoxan or prazosin. CGP 39551 decreased the locomotor activity. The studied compounds did not increase the locomotion in monoamine-depleted (pretreated with reserpine and -methyl-p-tyrosine) rats. Clonidine induced antiakinetic effect in monoamine-depleted rats. This effect was more pronounced after joint administration of clonidine and CGP 37849 or CGP 39551. The locomotor hyperactivity induced by joint dministration of CGP 37849 and clonidine was inhibited by haloperidol but not prazosin or idazoxan. CGP 37849 but not CGP 39551 also enhanced antiakinetic effect of L-DOPA (given together with benserazide) in monoamine-depleted rats. CGP 37849 antagonized the spiperone- and fluphenazine-induced catalepsy; CGP 39551 had considerably weaker antagonistic effect. The reserpine-induced catalepsy was attenuated by CGP 37849. MK-801, a non-competitive NMDA antagonist inhibited spiperone- but not reserpine-induced catalepsy. The obtained results indicate that CGP 37849 administered alone or in combination with L-DOPA or clonidine may be a potential antiparkinsonian drug.