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E Falch

Publications and source records attributed to E Falch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Electrophysiological studies of the GABAA receptor ligand, 4-PIOL, on cultured hippocampal neurones.

1. Whole-cell, patch-clamp recordings from cultured hippocampal neurones have been used to characterize the action of the GABAA ligand, 5-(4-piperidyl)isoxazol-3-ol (4-PIOL). The action of 4-PIOL was compared with that of the established GABAA agonist, isoguvacine. 2. With a symmetrical Cl- gradient across the membrane and a holding potential of -60mV, both isoguvacine and 4-PIOL evoked an inward current. The reversal potentials of the responses to both agents were identical (+8.8 mV, n = 4) and the current/voltage relationships showed outward-going rectification. 3. The response to 300 microM 4-PIOL was completely blocked by the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline methobromide (BMB, 10 microM). The pA2 of BMB was greater than 6.46. With 2 mM 4-PIOL about 15% of the response remained in the presence of 100 microM BMB. This may represent a non-specific component of the response to large concentrations of 4-PIOL. 4. 4-PIOL was about 200 times less potent as an agonist than isoguvacine. because of the rapid fade (desensitization) of isoguvacine-induced currents, the maximum response to this agonist was not determined. However, the response to 2 mM 4-PIOL was only a small fraction of that evoked by submaximal concentrations of isoguvacine. 5. Setting the response to 1 mM 4-PIOL as maximum, the EC50 for 4-PIOL was 91 microM (95% confidence limits:73-114 microM). 6. 4-PIOL antagonized the response to isoguvacine with a parallel shift to the right of the dose-response curve. The antagonist action of 4-PIOL was about 30 times weaker than that of BMB. When allowance was made for the intrinsic agonist action of 4-PIOL, the Ki was 116p microM (95% confidence limits: 102-130 microM). This was not significantly different from EC5, (P = 0.86; non-parametric Mann-Whitney test).7. It is concluded that 4-PIOL is a partial agonist at the GABAA receptor on cultured hippocampal neurones.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

GABA uptake inhibitors containing mono- and diarylmethoxyalkyl N-substituents.

Analogues of GABA and the GABA uptake inhibitors, nipecotic acid and guvacine, carrying N-(mono)- or N-(diarylmethoxy)alkyl substituents were synthesized and tested in vitro as inhibitors of synaptosomal GABA uptake and GABAA receptor binding. Whereas the N-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl derivative GABA (compound 23) (see Figures 1 and Scheme 1 for structures) was only a moderately potent inhibitor of GABA uptake, corresponding derivatives of nipecotic acid and guvacine compounds 7e and 16, respectively) were potent inhibitors having IC50 values in the low micromolar range. In the case of 7e, (a) the (R)-isomer (10) was three times more potent than the (S)-isomer (13), (b) the bis-4-chlorophenyl analogue (compound 7g) was more potent than 7e, (c) the introduction of an additional methylene group into the linkage between the nipecotic acid and benzhydryl ether moiety (to give 7f) did not significantly affect in vitro biological activity, and (d) removal of one of the phenyl groups, or replacement of the benzhydryl ether group by the conformationally restrained fluorenyloxy group (to give 7i), resulted in substantial loss of activity. None of the compounds synthesized showed detectable affinity for GABAA receptor sites.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1988

Heterocyclic muscarinic agonists. Synthesis and biological activity of some bicyclic sulfonium arecoline bioisosteres.

A number of S-methylsulfonium analogues of the conformationally restricted muscarinic agonists of the 3-alk-oxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridine (O-alkyl-THPO) type have been synthesized. The effects on muscarinic receptors of these 3-alkoxy-5-methyl-6,7-dihydro-4H-thiopyrano[3,4-d]isoxazol-5 -ium (O-alkyl-S-methyl-DHTO) analogues (7a-d) were assessed in receptor-binding experiments with tritiated oxotremorine M, pirenzepine, and quinuclidinyl benzilate as ligands and were supported by studies on the isolated guinea pig ileum. The degree of muscarinic agonist activity of the compounds (M-agonist index) and their selectivity for M-1 or M-2 muscarinic receptor subtypes (M-2/M-1 index) were estimated on the basis of receptor-binding studies. The in vitro pharmacological profiles of the compounds were compared with those of arecoline and its sulfonium and 3-methoxyisoxazole isosteres, sulfoarecoline and O,5-dimethyl-THPO, respectively. While O-methyl-DHTO (5a) and N-methyl-DHTO (6a) were inactive, all of the sulfonium analogues 7a-d were muscarinic agonists with the exception of O-ethyl-S-methyl-DHTO (7b), which showed a muscarinic antagonist profile.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Kinetic characterization of inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake into cultured neurons and astrocytes by 4,4-diphenyl-3-butenyl derivatives of nipecotic acid and guvacine.

The effects of N-(4,4-diphenyl-3-butenyl) derivatives of nipecotic acid (SKF-89976-A and SKF-100844-A) and guvacine (SKF-100330-A) on neuronal and astroglial gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake were investigated. In addition, the uptake of SKF-89976-A was studied using the tritiated compound. All of the compounds were found to be competitive inhibitors of GABA uptake irrespective of the cell type, with Ki values similar to or lower than those of the parent amino acids. Moreover, none of the compounds exhibited selectivity with regard to inhibition of neuronal and glial GABA uptake. In spite of the competitive nature of SKF-89976-A, the compound was not transported by the GABA carriers in the two cell types, because no saturable uptake could be demonstrated.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Synthesis and biological activity of a GABAA agonist which has no effect on benzodiazepine binding and of structurally related glycine antagonists.

3-Isoxazolols substituted in the 5-position by pyrrolidinyl or piperidyl (referred to, respectively, as PYOLs and PIOLs; see Figure 2 for structures) were designed and synthesized as analogues of the potent and specific GABAA agonist THIP. Activity in the series was markedly dependent upon positional isomerism in the structures. Isomers in which the pyrrolidine or piperidine rings were attached via their 2-positions (2-PYOL and 2-PIOL) had no effect on GABAA receptors in vivo or in vitro. An isomer wherein attachment was via the 4-position (4-PIOL) was a GABAA agonist, but it was unique in not affecting the binding of diazepam in vitro; its 'ring-opened' analogue, (RS)-5-(1-methyl-3-aminopropyl)-3-isoxazolol (11) did not bind significantly to GABAA receptor sites in vitro. In contrast, the 3-positional isomer (3-PIOL) antagonized the inhibitory action of glycine on cat spinal neurons. A similar effect was earlier demonstrated for 3-PYOL. However, in contrast to 3-PYOL, which is approximately equipotent as an antagonist of glycine and GABA, 3-PIOL only marginally reduced the inhibitory effect of GABA. The R and S forms of 3-PIOL, synthesized from the respective isomers of piperidine-3-carboxylic acid with known absolute stereochemistry, had pharmacological profiles indistinguishable from that of racemic 3-PIOL.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

GABA uptake inhibitors. Synthesis and effects on audiogenic seizures of ester prodrugs of nipecotic acid, guvacine and cis-4-hydroxynipecotic acid.

The pivaloyloxymethyl esters 4 and 5 of the amino acid GABA uptake inhibitors guvacine and nipecotic acid, respectively, were synthesized as potential prodrugs. The half-lives of 4 and 5 for conversion into the parent amino acids were determined under approximate physiological conditions in the presence or absence of human serum. Under the former conditions the half-lives for 4 and 5 were 6.3 hr and 0.8 hr, and, in the absence of serum, 15.5 hr and 1.2 hr, respectively. The compounds 4 and 5 were administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) to DBA/2 mice and their effects on audiogenic seizures determined. In agreement with earlier findings for 5, all phases of the seizure response of the animals were suppressed by compound 4 at doses above 2mmol/kg i.p. At anticonvulsant doses of compound 4, as well as of 5, side effects such as sedation and impairments of motor activities were observed. The ethyl and pivaloyloxymethyl esters 9 and 11 of cis-4-acetoxynipecotic acid, designed as 'double' ester prodrugs of the GABA uptake inhibitor cis-4-OH-nipecotic acid, were synthesized and shown to have very weak anticonvulsant effects. Compounds 9 and 11 did, however, show a broad spectrum of cholinergic side effects. These apparent interactions of 9 and 11 with muscarinic cholinergic receptors have been explained on the basis of the similarity of the structures of 9 and 11 to that of the muscarinic agonist 1-methyl-4-acetoxypiperidine. Furthermore, the structural similarity of 9 and the muscarinic agonist nipecotic acid ethyl ester may, to some extent, underlie the cholinergic profile of 9.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1986

Pharmacological profile of a novel class of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonists.

Some in vivo pharmacological effects of a number of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonists containing the bicyclic 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridin-3-ol (THPO) skeleton were studied in rats and mice. The key compounds O,N-dimethyl-THPO (2) and O-methyl-THPO (4) are bioisosteres of arecoline and norarecoline, respectively. The vasodepressor effects of arecoline and the title compounds in anaesthetized rats gave parallel log dose-response curves. The order of potency of the compounds in this test system was identical with that measured earlier using a guinea-pig ileum preparation, arecoline and 2 being the most active compounds. This order of potency was different from those for the antinociceptive and anticonvulsant effects of the compounds using grid shock and isoniazid antagonism tests, respectively, where O-propargyl-THPO (3) proved to be the most active. The pA2 values for the atropine or scopolamine antagonism of these effects of arecoline and 4 were calculated. The partition coefficients (log P values) of the compounds were measured and shown to conform with their ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1986

Pilocarpine prodrugs I. Synthesis, physicochemical properties and kinetics of lactonization of pilocarpic acid esters.

Various alkyl and aralkyl esters of pilocarpic acid were synthesized and evaluated as prodrug forms for pilocarpine with the purpose of improving the ocular bioavailability of pilocarpine through increased corneal membrane permeability. The esters were found to undergo a quantitative cyclization to pilocarpine in aqueous solution of pH 3.5-10, the rate of cyclization being a function of the polar and steric effects within the alcohol portion of the esters. The rates of lactonization increased proportionally with the hydroxide ion activity over the pH range studied which is in accord with a reaction mechanism involving intramolecular nucleophilic attack of alkoxide ion on the ester carbonyl moiety. At pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C, half-times of lactonization ranging from 30 min (p-chlorobenzyl ester) to 1105 min (n-hexyl ester) were observed for the various esters. The esters are markedly more lipophilic than pilocarpine. The results suggested that the pilocarpic acid esters may be potentially useful prodrugs, especially when further derivatized to give in vitro stable pilocarpic acid diesters.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1986

Pilocarpine prodrugs. II. Synthesis, stability, bioconversion, and physicochemical properties of sequentially labile pilocarpine acid diesters.

Various novel diesters of pilocarpic acid were synthesized and evaluated as prodrug forms for pilocarpine with the aim of improving the ocular delivery characteristics of the drug. The pilocarpic acid monoesters previously studied cyclized spontaneously to pilocarpine in aqueous solution and although they showed enhanced corneal permeability when compared with pilocarpine these monoesters suffered from poor solution stability. The present study shows that this problem can be totally overcome by blocking the free hydroxyl group in the monoesters. Diesters of pilocarpic acid were obtained by esterification of this group. Such compounds were found to possess a high stability in aqueous solution (shelf lives of more than 5 years at 20 degrees C were estimated) but at the same time were readily converted to pilocarpine under conditions simulating those occurring in vivo through a sequential process involving enzymatic hydrolysis of the O-acyl bond followed by spontaneous lactonization of the intermediate pilocarpic acid monoester. Rate data are given for the conversion of the diesters in human plasma and in various rabbit eye homogenates. The pH-solubility profile was derived for a diester and lipophilicity parameters were determined for the compounds. All diesters were markedly more lipophilic than pilocarpine and the corresponding pilocarpic acid monoesters. The results suggest that pilocarpic acid diesters may be potentially useful pilocarpine prodrugs as they combine a high solution stability with an adequate rate of conversion to pilocarpine under in vivo conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Glycine antagonists. Synthesis, structure, and biological effects of some bicyclic 5-isoxazolol zwitterions.

The bicyclic 5-isoxazolol zwitterions 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[4,3-c] pyridin-3-ol (3, iso-THPO), 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-isoxazolo [4,3-c]azepin-3-ol (12, iso-THAO), and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-isoxazolo [3,4-c]azepin-3-ol (13, iso-THIA), which are structurally related to the glycine antagonist 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-isoxazolo[3,4-d]azepin-3-ol (iso-THAZ), have been synthesized and tested biologically. All of these compounds were glycine antagonists approximately equipotent with iso-THAZ during microelectrophoretic ejection near cat spinal neurons. In contrast to iso-THAZ, which also interacts with 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in rat brains, neither 12 nor 13 show any significant affinities for GABA binding or uptake mechanisms in vitro. The glycine antagonist 3 was, however, shown also to be a moderately potent inhibitor of GABA uptake. The structure of 12 was established by an X-ray analysis. The bond lengths of the 5-isoxazolol anionic moiety of 12 are in agreement with a pronounced delocalization of the negative charge of this compound.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A novel class of conformationally restricted heterocyclic muscarinic agonists.

A series of conformationally restricted compounds containing the 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridin-3-ol (THPO) skeleton, including O-methyl-THPO (10a) and O,5-dimethyl-THPO (11a), were synthesized. The compounds were designed by bioisosteric replacement of the methyl ester groups of the muscarinic cholinergic agonists norarecoline and arecoline by the 3-methoxyisoxazole group, and their interactions with central and peripheral muscarinic receptors were tested in vitro. The compounds 10a, 11a, O-ethyl-THPO (10b), O-propargyl-THPO (10j), and O-ethyl-5-methyl-THPO (11b) were inhibitors of the binding of the muscarinic mustard [3H]PrBCM to rat brain membranes with an increasing order of potency. There was, however, a very low degree of correlation between these binding data and the effects of the compounds on peripheral (ileal) muscarinic receptors, where 11a, 10j, 11b, and 10a were agonists with a decreasing order of potency, whereas O-isopropyl-THPO (10e) showed antagonistic effects. The relatively low pKa values of the compounds (7.5-7.7 for compounds with secondary and 6.1-7.0 for compounds with tertiary amino groups) are likely to allow the compounds to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Comparative stereostructure-activity studies on GABAA and GABAB receptor sites and GABA uptake using rat brain membrane preparations.

The affinities of a number of analogues of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for GABAA and GABAB receptor sites and GABA uptake were studied using rat brain membrane preparations. Studies on the (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-isomers of baclofen, 3-hydroxy-4-aminobutyric acid (3-OH-GABA), and 4,5-dihydromuscimol (DHM) revealed different stereoselectivities of these synaptic mechanisms in vitro. Although (S)-3-OH-GABA and, in particular, (S)-DHM were more potent than the corresponding (R)-isomers as inhibitors of GABAA binding, the opposite stereoselectivity was demonstrated for the GABAB binding sites. Thus, (R)-3-OH-GABA and (R)-baclofen were more potent than the (S)-isomers as inhibitors of GABAB binding, (R)-baclofen being some five times more potent than (R)-3-OH-GABA. These two (R)-isomers actually have opposite orientation of the substituents on the GABA backbones, suggesting that the lipophilic substituent of (R)-baclofen interacts with a structural element of the GABAB receptor site different from that that binds the very polar hydroxy group of (R)-3-OH-GABA. The O-methylated analogue of 3-OH-GABA, 3-methoxy-4-aminobutyric acid (3-OCH3-GABA), did not interact significantly with GABAB sites. The homologues of GABA, trans-4-aminocrotonic acid (trans-ACA), muscimol, and 3-OH-GABA, that is, 5-aminovaleric acid (DAVA), trans-5-aminopent-2-enoic acid, homomuscimol, and 3-hydroxy-5-aminovaleric acid (3-OH-DAVA), respectively, were generally much weaker than the parent compounds, whereas 2-hydroxy-5-aminovaleric acid (2-OH-DAVA) showed a significantly higher affinity for GABAB sites than the corresponding GABA analogue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗