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Biomedical subjects

R J Murray

Publications and source records attributed to R J Murray.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The effect of trans sodium crocetinate (TSC) in a rat oleic acid model of acute lung injury.

Trans sodium crocetinate is a novel drug, which has been shown previously to increase whole-body oxygen consumption during hemorrhagic shock. TSC has been suggested to work by increasing the diffusion rate of oxygen through plasma rather than on a specific symptom of hemorrhagic shock and has been suggested as a general treatment for hypoxemia. Thus, it might also be beneficial for treating respiratory insufficiencies. This study employed an oleic acid model of acute lung injury to determine if TSC could increase arterial PO2 in that model.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis: diagnosis and management guidelines.

S. aureus infective endocarditis (SAIE) is a serious infection associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. There is evidence that the incidence of SAIE is increasing. As its clinical features are non-specific, SAIE must be suspected in every case of S. aureus bacteraemia, whether it is associated with an obvious source or not. The optimal antimicrobial agent(s) and duration of treatment for SAIE are currently not known, but on the basis of present evidence, a minimum of 2 weeks of antimicrobial therapy is recommended for 'right-sided' SAIE, a minimum of 4 weeks for uncomplicated 'left-sided' SAIE, and a minimum of 6 weeks for complicated 'leftsided' or prosthetic valve SAIE. Although there is no evidence to suggest that combination therapy with a cell-wall active agent (e.g. flucloxacillin) and an aminoglycoside decreases mortality in SAIE, combination therapy should be considered during the initial 3-5 days of therapy as it can shorten the duration of bacteraemia. In complicated or prosthetic valve SAIE, early and close liaison with cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery services is essential. Rapid identification and susceptibility testing of the infecting organism are important in determining the choice of definitive antimicrobial therapy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

Recognition and management of Staphylococcus aureus toxin-mediated disease.

The ubiquitous human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is capable of producing a formidable range of extracellular toxins that can have significant deleterious effects on the host. Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) results from infection or colonization with a strain of S. aureus that produces staphylococcal enterotoxin(s). The key features of TSS are widespread erythroderma occurring in association with profound hypotension and multiple organ dysfunction. As morbidity and mortality from TSS are appreciable, early recognition of TSS combined with intensive supportive management is critical. Staphylococcal foodborne disease (SFD) is caused by contamination of food during preparation or serving by preformed S. aureus enterotoxin(s). Symptom-onset is abrupt and the disease may be severe enough to warrant hospitalization, but it is usually self-limiting and does not require specific antistaphylococcal therapy. Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) results from colonization or infection with a strain of S. aureus that produces epidermolytic toxin(s). SSSS ranges in severity from trivial focal skin blistering to extensive, life-threatening exfoliation. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of TSS, SFD and SSSS.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2002

Levels of IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor are increased in HIV patients with a history of immune restoration disease after HAART.

OBJECTIVES: We have previously described immune restoration diseases (IRD) associated with asymptomatic opportunistic infections presenting in immunodeficient HIV patients responding to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Here we address the question of whether patients with a history of IRD exhibit persistent immune activation, shown by elevated levels of interleukin-(IL)-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R). METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma were collected from HIV patients with nadir CD4 T cell counts of < 80/microL and who had achieved immune reconstitution after HAART with (n=14) or without (n=15) experiencing IRD, severely immunodeficient (SID) patients with < 80 CD4 T cells/microL (n=8) and HIV seronegative controls (n=15). PBMC production and plasma levels of IL-6, sIL-6R and interferon (IFN)-gamma (PBMC only) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Intracellular flow cytometry was used to determine the predominant cellular source of IL-6 in HIV patients and controls. RESULTS: Unstimulated PBMC from IRD patients produced significantly higher amounts of IL-6 and sIL-6R than non-IRD patients and HIV seronegative controls. The sIL-6R concentration was also significantly higher in supernatants from mitogen-stimulated PBMC from IRD patients compared to non-IRD patients. The production of IFN-gamma did not differ between IRD and non-IRD patients. IRD patients had significantly higher plasma levels of IL-6 compared to non-IRD patients, SID patients and controls. Monocytes were the predominant source of IL-6 in both HIV patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a history of IRD after HAART have elevated levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Structural modifications to an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist result in large differences in trapping block.

Differences in the degree of trapping of initial block by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists may affect their safety and, hence, suitability for clinical trials. In this comparative study, 23 compounds structurally related to the low-affinity, use-dependent NMDA receptor antagonist (S)-alpha-phenyl-2-pyridineethanamine dihydrochloride (AR-R15896AR) were examined to determine the degree of trapping block they exhibit. Compounds were tested at concentrations that produced a comparable initial 80% block of NMDA-mediated whole-cell current in rat cortical cultures. A wide range of values of trapping block was found, indicating that trapping is not an all-or-none event. Fifteen of the compounds trapped significantly more than the 54 +/- 3% of initial block trapped by AR-R15896AR. The off-rates of these compounds were slower than that of AR-R15896AR. Only 2 of the 23 compounds trapped significantly less than AR-R15896AR. AR-R15808, the piperidine analog of AR-R15896AR, appeared to trap only 8 +/- 3% of its initial block, although its fast off-rate confounded accurate quantification of trapping. AR-R26952, which, like AR-R15896AR, contains a pyridine in place of a phenyl group, trapped 40 +/- 5% of its initial block and exhibited kinetics comparable with AR-R15896AR. Structure-activity analysis suggested that the presence of two basic nitrogen atoms and decreased hydrophobicity led to decreased trapping. There was no correlation between trapping and lipophilicity as would be expected if closed-channel egress was due to escape through the lipid bilayer. However, there was a positive correlation between off-rate and degree of trapping. Models that can account for partial trapping are presented.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Assessment of immune function by lymphoproliferation underestimates lymphocyte functional capacity in HIV patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

The objective of this study was to evaluate T cell responses in HIV-infected patients after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), using four assays of immune function, and to determine which best reflects the presence of CD4(+) T cells able to respond to CMV antigen. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 41 HIVinfected patients and 31 healthy HIV-seronegative controls were cultured with mitogen (PMA/Ca(2+) ionophore) or antigen (CMV). Production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) determined by ELISpot assay was compared with lymphoproliferation, IFN-gamma production assessed by ELISA, and CD69 expression and intracellular IFN-gamma assessed by flow cytometry. Cells from patients whose CD4(+) T cells counts increased 4-fold or to >200 cells/microl after HAART responded as well as control cells when assessed by IFN-gamma production and CD69 expression after mitogenic stimulation, but lymphoproliferation responses were depressed by about 52%. Patients who did not meet these criteria for immune reconstitution had lymphoproliferative responses up to 30-fold lower than control subjects, while intracellular IFN-gamma and CD69 expression and ELISpot counts were less than 3-fold lower. Responses to CMV antigen could not be detected by flow cytometry, but were readily detected by ELISpot in CMV-seropositive patients whose CD4(+) T cell counts had increased after HAART. This included patients with low responses assessed by lymphoproliferation. Moreover, ELISpot responses measured with fresh and frozen cells were comparable, while lymphoproliferation assays required fresh cells. In conclusion, the ELISpot assay is a sensitive and efficient technique for detecting CMV-specific IFN-gamma responses in samples that display poor responses when assessed by lymphoproliferation assays.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[S]-AR-R 15896AR-A novel anticonvulsant: acute safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.

A rational, chemical, synthetic effort to identify promising low-affinity uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonists for use as antiepileptic drugs led to the discovery of AR-R 15035AR, or [RS]-alpha-phenyl-2-pyridine-ethanamine.2HCl. Chiral separation followed by intensive in vivo screening resulted in the selection of the [S] enantiomer, AR-R 15896AR, as the best compound for further preclinical development. AR-R 15896AR prevented tonic seizures in rodents for up to 6 to 8 h in response to maximal electroshock (MES), 4-aminopyridine, bicuculline, or strychnine, as well as characteristic seizures following injections of N-methyl-DL-aspartic or kainic acids. AR-R 15896AR was ineffective in two kindling models of epilepsy, did not produce tolerance to MES, and was devoid of proconvulsant and phencyclidine-like properties in mice and rats, respectively. Therapeutic indices for AR-R 15896AR were comparable to or exceeded those for standard anticonvulsants. Orally administered AR-R 15896AR rapidly entered the rat brain and was eliminated in parallel from the plasma and plasma-free compartment. A dose-response relationship between plasma and brain levels after p.o. or i.v. administration of AR-R 15896AR and protection against MES was highly correlative. The time course for loss of protection against MES mirrored the elimination of the compound from brain and plasma. The total brain concentration (25 microM) of drug at the ED50 value (approximately 3 mg/kg) for protection against MES seizures was consistent with the reported affinity of AR-R 15896AR at the N-methyl-D- aspartic acid binding site (IC50 value = 1.3 microM). The present findings demonstrated the attractiveness of AR-R 15896AR as a candidate for further development to treat epilepsy.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1997

-(S)-Alpha-phenyl-2-pyridine-ethanamine Dihydrochloride-, a low affinity uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid antagonist, is effective in rodent models of global and focal ischemia.

[(S)-Alpha-phenyl-2-pyridine-ethanamine dihydrochloride] (ARL 15896AR) is a low affinity uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist that was tested in animal models of anoxia and ischemia. Pretreatment of rodents with ARL 15896AR extended survival time during exposure to hypoxia. With the rat four-vessel occlusion model of global ischemia (20 min), oral dosing commencing at reflow, resulted in significant protection of the CA1 hippocampal neurons. ARL 15896AR was, however, ineffective in the rat two-vessel occlusion model and in the gerbil models of forebrain ischemia, the latter due to an inability to attain suitable plasma levels. In the spontaneously hypertensive rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) (2 hr plus 22 hr reflow), acute dosing with ARL 15896AR (i.p.) beginning from 30 min before or up to 1 hr post-MCAO significantly reduced cortical infarct volume. The ability of ARL 15896AR to influence infarct size, as well as functional correlates was examined in SHR after 90 min of MCAO. T2 weighted magnetic resonance images taken at 2 and 6 days post-MCAO revealed significantly smaller lesion sizes in the group receiving injections with ARL 15896AR beginning 30 min after occlusion. Spontaneously hypertensive rats were subsequently tested (30-42 days post-MCAO) and found to be deficient in skilled use of the forepaws (staircase test). The contralateral forepaw was most severely impaired, however, ARL 15896AR treatment prevented motor impairment in only the ipsilateral forepaw. Histopathological examination of cortical infarct size was unremarkable between treated and control rats. The findings indicate that ARL 15896AR exhibits neuroprotection in global and focal models of ischemia

Animals↗
PubMed1996

ARL 17477, a potent and selective neuronal NOS inhibitor decreases infarct volume after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

We tested the effects of administration of a selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitor, ARL 17477, on ischemic cell damage and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), in rats subjected to transient (2 h) middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and 166 h of reperfusion (n = 48) and in rats without MCA occlusion (n = 25), respectively. Animals were administered ARL 17477 (i.v.): 10 mg/kg; 1 mg/kg; 3mg/kg; N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA) 10 mg/kg L-NA 1 mg/kg; and Vehicle. Administration of ARL 17477 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg reduced ischemic infarct volume by 53 (p < 0.05), 23, and 6.5%, respectively. L-NA 1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg increased infarct volume by 2 and 15%, respectively (p > 0.05). Administration of ARL 17477 (10 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased rCBF by 27 +/- 5.3 and 24 +/- 14.08% and cortical NOS activity by 86 +/- 14.9 and 91 +/- 8.9% at 10 min or 3 h, respectively, and did not alter mean arterial blood pressure (MABP). L-NA (10 mg/kg) significantly reduced rCBF by 23 +/- 9.8% and NOS activity by 81 +/- 7% and significantly (p < 0.05) increased MABP. Treatment with 3 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg ARL 17477 reduced rCBF by only 2.4 +/- 4.5 and 0%, respectively, even when NOS activity was reduced by 63 +/- 13.4 and 45 +/- 15.7% at 3 h, respectively, (p < 0.05). The data demonstrate that ARL 17477 inhibits nNOS in the rat brain and causes a dose-dependent reduction in infarct volume after transient MCA occlusion.

Amidines↗
PubMed1995

In vitro muscarinic activity of spiromuscarones and related analogs.

The cholinergic hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease suggests that cholinergic agonists may have therapeutic potential for treating the attendant memory deficits of the disease. As part of a program aimed at preparing metabolically stable, nonquaternary analogs of muscarone, 1-oxa-2,8-dimethyl-8-azaspiro[4.5]decan-3-one, 2a, and related analogs have been synthesized and their in vitro muscarinic activity evaluated. The synthetic strategy in the formation of the 1-spiro[4.5]decan-3-one ring system of 2a involved cyclization of the diol 4 in the presence of Nafion-Hg. The spiromuscarone 2a was found to displace [3H]Oxo-M binding with a Ki value of 7 nM. Affinities of the oxime and hydrazone analogs of 2a were lower than 2a. The compounds in these series were partial muscarinic agonists as demonstrated by stimulation of phosphatidyl inositol hydrolysis assay, with 2a showing the highest intrinsic intrinsic activity (60% as compared with carbachol). The results from this study indicate that an exo double bond at the C-3 position is essential for the receptor binding.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Neuroprotective actions of 2-amino-N-(1,2-diphenylethyl)-acetamide hydrochloride (FPL 13950) in animal models of hypoxia and global ischemia.

2-Amino-N-(1,2-diphenylethyl)-acetamide hydrochloride (FPL 13950) has been demonstrated to have good anticonvulsant efficacy and a relative lack of acute side effects in rodents. Similar in structure to remacemide hydrochloride, it was also shown to possess weak potency as an uncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors. In our study FPL 13950 was profiled preclinically as a potential neuroprotective agent with respect to lengthening the survival time of rodents exposed to hypoxia, as well as for ability to protect the vulnerable CA1 pyramidal neurons of the rat and dog from the consequences of global ischemia. Under conditions of hypoxia, pretreatment of rodents with FPL 13950 resulted in an extension in the time to loss of the righting reflex (rats) and mortality (rats and mice). This occurred whether the rats were maintained at ambient body temperature or made hyperthermic. When administered after 30 min of four-vessel occlusion global ischemia for periods of either 7 (b.i.d.) or 14 days (s.i.d.), FPL 13950 exhibited protection of the vulnerable CA1 hippocampal neurons in rat. In the 14-day treatment study the CA3 neurons were evaluated and FPL 13950 was found to prevent the lesser degree of ischemic-induced damage to this hippocampal region. In ischemic rats treated with FPL 13950 for 7 days, electrophysiological responses of CA1 neurons (orthodromic and antidromic population spikes, in vitro) were also preserved after FPL 13950 treatment. FPL 13950 was administered i.v. at 30 min after 8 min of clamping the ascending aorta in dogs, followed by a b.i.d./s.i.d. dosing regimen for 1 wk. Neuronal damage to CA1 was considerable in the saline-treated ischemic animals but significantly protected in dogs receiving FPL 13950. FPL 13950 continues to serve as a potential backup candidate for remacemide HCl which is currently in clinical trials for patients with stroke and epilepsy.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1993

Different HLA-B27 subtypes present the same immunodominant Epstein-Barr virus peptide.

An immunological basis has been postulated for the strong association between at least five subtypes of the HLA-B27 allele (B27.01, .02, .04, .05, and .06) and ankylosing spondylitis, namely that cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses are induced against an "arthritogenic" peptide that these different subtypes can all present. This requires a degree of overlap between the peptide binding repertoires of different B27 molecules. The present work, using CTL responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as a model system in which to identify B27-restricted epitopes, provides the first direct evidence that different disease-related alleles can present the same immunodominant peptide. We first noted that EBV-specific CTL clones, whether from B27.05-, B27.02-, or B27.04-positive donors, were largely subtype-specific in their restriction, recognizing only EBV-transformed B cell lines of the relevant B27 subtype. However, when tested against targets expressing individual EBV proteins from recombinant vaccinia virus vectors, all B27.05-restricted, all B27.02-restricted, and a proportion of B27.04-restricted clones were reactive to the same viral nuclear antigen, Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA)3C. In subsequent peptide sensitization assays, all the EBNA3C-specific clones tested and also the EBNA3C-specific component within polyclonal CTL preparations from B27.05-, B27.02-, or B27.04-positive donors recognized the same immunodominant viral peptide RRIYDLIEL (EBNA3C residues 258-266). This sequence accords well with the proposed B27.05 peptide motif and clearly must be accommodated within the different peptide binding grooves of B27.05, B27.02, and B27.04 molecules. Clonal analysis revealed a second component of the B27.04-restricted response that was not shared with other subtypes. This was directed against an EBV latent membrane protein LMP2 epitope whose sequence RRRWRRLTV satisfies some but not all requirements of the B27.05 peptide motif. We conclude that there is indeed a degree of functional overlap between different B27 subtypes in their selection and presentation of CTL epitopes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

HLA A2.1-restricted cytotoxic T cells recognizing a range of Epstein-Barr virus isolates through a defined epitope in latent membrane protein LMP2.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses induced by persistent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in normal B-lymphoid tissues could potentially be directed against EBV-positive malignancies if expression of the relevant viral target proteins is maintained in tumor cells. For malignancies such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Hodgkin's disease, this will require CTL targeting against the nuclear antigen EBNA1 or the latent membrane proteins LMP1 and LMP2. Here we analyze in detail a B95.8 EBV-reactivated CTL response which is specific for LMP2 and restricted through a common HLA allele, A2.1. We found that in vitro-reactivated CTL preparations from several A2.1-positive virus-immune donors contained detectable reactivity against A2.1-bearing target cells expressing either LMP2A or the smaller LMP2B protein from recombinant vaccinia virus vectors. Peptide sensitization experiments then mapped the A2.1-restricted response to a single epitope, the nonamer CLGGLLTMV (LMP2A residues 426 to 434), whose sequence accords well with the proposed peptide binding motif for A2.1. Most Caucasian and African virus isolates (whether of type 1 or type 2) were identical in sequence to B95.8 across this LMP2 epitope region, although 2 of 12 such isolates encoded a Leu-->Ile change at epitope position 6. In contrast, most Southeast Asian and New Guinean isolates (whether of type 1 or type 2) constituted a different virus group with a Cys-->Ser mutation at epitope position 1. CTLs raised against the B95.8-encoded epitope were nevertheless able to recognize these variant epitope sequences in the context of A2.1 whether they were provided exogenously as synthetic peptides or generated endogenously in B cells transformed with the variant viruses. A CTL response of this kind could have therapeutic potential in that it is directed against a protein expressed in many EBV-positive malignancies, is reactive across a range of virus isolates, and is restricted through a relatively common HLA allele.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Multiple HLA A11-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes of different immunogenicities in the Epstein-Barr virus-encoded nuclear antigen 4.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous herpesvirus, induces potent HLA class I-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses. Analyses of target antigen choice have shown that the very strong CTL responses which are often observed through the HLA A11 allele map are due almost entirely to a single transformation-associated EBV protein, the nuclear antigen EBNA4. Here, we sought to determine the number and relative immunogenicities of HLA A11-restricted epitopes within this 938-amino-acid protein. An initial screening with a series of recombinant vaccinia virus vectors encoding progressively truncated forms of EBNA4 was followed by peptide sensitization experiments using overlapping 14- or 15-mers from the entire sequence. These two approaches allowed the identification of five epitope regions located between residues 101 and 115, 416 and 429, 396 and 410, 481 and 495, and 551 and 564 of the EBNA4 molecule. CTL preparations from all seven HLA A11-positive donors tested had demonstrable reactivities against the 416-to-429 peptide, whereas reactivities against the other epitopes either tended to be lost on serial passage or, for some of the donors, were never detected. The immunodominance of the 416-to-429 epitope was further supported by peptide dilution assays using polyclonal effectors and by CTL cloning experiments. Analysis of the 416-to-429 region identified the nanomer 416-424 (IVTDFSVIK) as the cognate peptide. This peptide was able to sensitize targets to lysis by A11-restricted CTL clones at concentrations as low as 5 x 10(-14) M.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Identification of target antigens for the human cytotoxic T cell response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV): implications for the immune control of EBV-positive malignancies.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a human herpes virus with oncogenic potential, persists in B lymphoid tissues and is controlled by virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) surveillance. On reactivation in vitro, these CTLs recognize EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) in an HLA class I antigen-restricted fashion, but the viral antigens providing target epitopes for such recognition remain largely undefined. Here we have tested EBV-induced polyclonal CTL preparations from 16 virus-immune donors on appropriate fibroblast targets in which the eight EBV latent proteins normally found in LCLs (Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen [EBNA] 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, leader protein [LP], and latent membrane protein [LMP] 1 and 2) have been expressed individually from recombinant vaccinia virus vectors. Most donors gave multicomponent responses with two or more separate reactivities against different viral antigens. Although precise target antigen choice was clearly influenced by the donor's HLA class I type, a subset of latent proteins, namely EBNA 3A, 3B, and 3C, provided the dominant targets on a range of HLA backgrounds; thus, 15 of 16 donors gave CTL responses that contained reactivities to one or more proteins of this subset. Examples of responses to other latent proteins, namely LMP 2 and EBNA 2, were detected through specific HLA determinants, but we did not observe reactivities to EBNA 1, EBNA LP, or LMP 1. The bulk polyclonal CTL response in one donor, and components of that response in others, did not map to any of the known latent proteins, suggesting that other viral target antigens remain to be identified. This work has important implications for CTL control over EBV-positive malignancies where virus gene expression is often limited to specific subsets of latent proteins.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1992

Biological profile of the metabolites and potential metabolites of the anticonvulsant remacemide.

Remacemide hydrochloride ((+/-)-2-amino-N-(1-methyl-1,2-diphenylethyl)- acetamide hydrochloride or FPL 1292AA) is a novel compound undergoing clinical trials for patients with generalized tonic/clonic and complex partial epilepsy. Remacemide exhibits efficacy against maximal electroconvulsive shock (MES) in rodents and seizures elicited by N-methyl-D,L-aspartate (NMDLA) in mice. Using rat synaptic membrane fractions, remacemide was shown to possess relatively weak noncompetitive binding to the ionic channel site of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) receptor complex. With the hypothesis that activity against NMDLA-elicited seizures might be reflected by transformation to a more active metabolic species, the aim of the present study was to evaluate potential pharmacological effects of the 9 identified metabolites of remacemide which were all found in human and dog urine. Moreover, specific entities were recognized in plasma (including the rat's), as well as dog and rat cerebrospinal fluid. Five putative metabolites were also examined. A major route of metabolic transformation of remacemide in rats yields the formation of a pharmacologically active more potent desglycine derivative, namely FPL 12495 (+/-). Potency over the parent compound is revealed in the MES test in mice and rats, the NMDA-induced convulsions/mortality test in mice, and especially involving in vitro displacement of MK801 binding to the channel subsite of the NMDA receptor. The S isomer (FPL 12859) of this desglycinate is even more potent, while the R isomer is less potent than the corresponding racemate. Unlike the non-competitive NMDA antagonist, MK801, these desglycinates did not prevent kindled seizures. Three other identified metabolites show efficacy in the mouse and rat in vivo tests, namely the N-hydroxy-desglycinate (FPL 15053) and the p-hydroxy-desglycinates (FPL 14331 and FPL 14465). FPL 15053 exhibited modest activity in all tests. The only in vivo activity exhibited by the 2 p-hydroxy-desglycinates was evidenced in the MES test following i.p. and i.v. dosing. However, FPL 14331 was active in the MK801 binding assay. An oxoacetate metabolite, PFL 15455, failed to demonstrate any biological activity. Of potential metabolites tested 2 beta-hydroxy-desglycinates (FPL 14991 and FPL 14981) displayed modest activity in the MES test, however, only FPL 14981 prevented NMDLA-induced convulsions/mortality in mice and was 2-fold more active regarding MK801 binding. The hydroxy-methyl derivative of remacemide (FPL 13592) and its desglycinate (FPL 15112) prevented MES-induced convulsions only after i.v. administration; only the desglycine derivative displaced MK801 binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetamides↗