Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Keith Wafford.
2,5-Dihydro-3H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-3-ones are GABAA receptor benzodiazepine binding site ligands, which can exhibit functional selectivity for the alpha3 subtype over the alpha1 subtype. SAR studies to optimize this functional selectivity are described.
Alpha3IA (6-(4-pyridyl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carbomethoxy-1-methyl-1H-pyridin-2-one) is a pyridone with higher binding and functional affinity and greater inverse agonist efficacy for GABA(A) receptors containing an alpha3 rather than an alpha1, alpha2 or alpha5 subunit. If doses are selected that minimise the occupancy at these latter subtypes, then the in vivo effects of alpha3IA are most probably mediated by the alpha3 subtype. Alpha3IA has good CNS penetration in rats and mice as measured using a [(3)H]Ro 15-1788 in vivo binding assay. At doses in rats that produce relatively low levels of occupancy (12%) in the cerebellum (i.e. alpha1-containing receptors), alpha3IA (30 mg kg(-1) i.p.), like the nonselective partial inverse agonist N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide (FG 7142), not only caused behavioural disruption in an operant, chain-pulling assay but was also anxiogenic in the elevated plus maze, an anxiogenic-like effect that could be blocked with the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788 (flumazenil). Neurochemically, alpha3IA (30 mg kg(-1) i.p.) as well as FG 7142 (15 mg kg(-1) i.p.) increased the concentration of the dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in rat medial prefrontal cortex by 74 and 68%, respectively, relative to vehicle-treated animals, a response that mimicked that seen following immobilisation stress. Taken together, these data demonstrate that an inverse agonist selective for GABA(A) receptors containing an alpha3 subunit is anxiogenic, and suggest that since alpha3-containing GABA(A) receptors play a role in anxiety, then agonists selective for this subtype should be anxiolytic.
2,5-Dihydropyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-3-ones are GABAA receptor benzodiazepine binding site ligands with functional selectivity for the alpha3 subtype over the alpha1 subtype. SAR studies to optimise this functional selectivity are described.
Nonselective inverse agonists at the gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA-A) benzodiazepine binding site have cognition-enhancing effects in animals but are anxiogenic and can precipitate convulsions. Herein, we describe novel GABA-A alpha5 subtype inverse agonists leading to the identification of 16 as an orally active, functionally selective compound that enhances cognition in animals without anxiogenic or convulsant effects. Compounds of this type may be useful in the symptomatic treatment of memory impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
A series of tricyclic pyridones has been evaluated as benzodiazepine site ligands with functional selectivity for the alpha(3) over the alpha(1) containing subtype of the human GABA(A) receptor ion channel. This investigation led to the identification of a high affinity, functionally selective, orally bioavailable benzodiazepine site ligand that demonstrated activity in rodent anxiolysis models and reduced sedation relative to diazepam.
A novel series of 3-heteroaryl-5,6-bis(aryl)-1-methyl-2-pyridones were developed with high affinity for the benzodiazepine (BZ) binding site of human gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptor ion channels, low binding selectivity for alpha 2- and/or alpha 3- over alpha 1-containing GABA(A) receptor subtypes and high binding selectivity over alpha 5 subtypes. High affinity appeared to be associated with a coplanar conformation of the pyridone and sulfur-containing 3-heteroaryl rings resulting from an attractive S.O intramolecular interaction. Functional selectivity (i.e., selective efficacy) for alpha 2 and/or alpha 3 GABA(A) receptor subtypes over alpha1 was observed in several of these compounds in electrophysiological assays. Furthermore, an alpha 3 subtype selective inverse agonist was proconvulsant and anxiogenic in rodents while an alpha 2/alpha 3 subtype selective partial agonist was anticonvulsant and anxiolytic, supporting the hypothesis that subtype selective BZ site agonists may provide new anxiolytic therapies.
Nonselective inverse agonists at the benzodiazepine binding site on the GABA-A chloride ion channel enhance cognitive performance in animals but cannot be used in the treatment of cognitive disorders because of anxiogenic and convulsant side effects. We have identified a novel series of GABA-A alpha5 receptor ligands during our search for alpha5 receptor inverse agonists as potential cognition enhancers. In particular, 6,6-dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)thio-1-(thiazol-2-yl)-6,7-dihydro-2-benzothiophen-4(5H)-one (26) has been identified as a functionally selective GABA-A alpha5 inverse agonist.