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Design and synthesis of novel dimeric morphinan ligands for kappa and micro opioid receptors.

A novel series of morphinans were synthesized, and their binding affinity at and functional selectivity for micro, delta, and kappa opioid receptors were evaluated. These dimeric ligands can be viewed as dimeric morphinans, which were formed by coupling two identical morphinan pharmacophores (cyclorphan (1) or MCL 101 (2)) with varying connecting spacers. Ligands 6 and 7 with alkyl spacers on the nitrogen position and ligands 8 and 9 in which the two morphinan pharmacophores were coupled by ether moieties at the 3-hydroxyl positions showed significant decrease in affinity at all three opioid receptors. An improvement in the affinity was achieved by introducing an ester moiety as the spacer in the dimeric morphinans. It was observed that the affinity of these ligands was sensitive to the character and length of the spacer. Compound 13 (MCL-139) with a 4-carbon ester spacer, compound 17 (MCL-144) containing a 10-carbon spacer, and compound 19 (MCL-145) with the conformationally constrained fumaryl spacer were the most potent ligands in this series, displaying excellent affinities at micro and kappa receptors (K(i) = 0.09-0.2 nM at micro and K(i) = 0.078-0.049 nM at kappa), which were comparable to the parent compound 2. Ligand 12, a compound containing only one morphinan pharmacophore and a long-chain ester group, had affinity at both micro and kappa receptors almost identical to that of the parent ligand 2. In the [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding assay, ligands 13, 17, and 19 and their parent morphinans 1 and 2 stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding mediated by the micro and kappa receptors. Compounds 13 and 17 were full kappa agonists and partial micro agonists, while compound 19 was a partial agonist at both micro and kappa receptors. These novel ligands, as well as their interesting pharmacological properties, will serve as the basis for our continuing investigation of the dimeric ligands as potential probes for the pharmacotherapy of cocaine abuse and may also open new avenues for the characterization of opioid receptors.

Animals↗

Determination of 6-oxo-morphinans, as the oximes, by difference circular dichroism spectroscopy.

A negative Cotton effect is observed in the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of 6-oxo-morphinans in the wavelength range of n-pi* electron transitions. 6-oxo-Morphinans can be transformed into oxime derivatives with hydroxylamine and after oxime formation the CD spectra are significantly different. Oxime formation was monitored by CD and by HPLC. It was established that under the experimental conditions used oxime formation was complete within 90 min. The method suggested for the determination of 6-oxo-morphinans is based on the considerable differences between the ellipticities before and after the oxime formation. The ellipticity difference varies linearly with concentration in the range 2 x 10(-5)-5 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) for the three 6-oxo-morphinans examined (oxycodone, hydrocodone, and 14-hydroxycodeinone). For hydrocodone the dependence is also linear in a lower concentration range (5 x 10(-6)-10(-4) mol L(-1)). The new difference CD spectroscopic method can be applied to the selective determination of 6-oxo-morphinans in bulk and dosage forms.

Circular Dichroism↗

Agonist and antagonist opioid activity of axial and equatorial conformations of S-methyl- and S-allyl-morphinans.

Resolved axial (beta) and equatorial (alpha) forms of S-methyl (beta-sulforphanol, alpha-sulforphanol) and S-allyl (beta-sulfallorphan, alpha-sulfallorphan) morphinans were tested for their ability to depress the electrically evoked contractions of the guinea pig ileum and of the mouse vas deferens, to compete with the binding of prototype ligands selective for mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors in membrane preparations of rat brain and guinea pig cerebellum and to produce analgesia in a rat thermal pain assay. beta-Sulforphanol was more potent than alpha-sulforphanol in the guinea pig ileum (relative potencies of 93% and 29% respectively, as compared with levorphanol). beta-Sulfallorphan and alpha-sulfallorphan were both inactive in the guinea pig ileum assay. In the mouse vas deferens preparation, beta-sulforphanol and alpha-sulforphanol had relative potencies of 2.1% and 1.2% as compared with levorphanol, respectively, while the S-allyl derivatives were inactive. All morphinan derivatives displayed marked binding selectivity for mu-opioid receptors but alpha-sulfallorphan also showed significant binding potency on delta-opioid receptors (12% as compared to levorphanol). The compounds were also tested for their ability to antagonize the biological activity of morphine. In the guinea pig ileum, alpha-sulfallorphan potently inhibited morphine with a Ke value of 41.7 nM. alpha-Sulforphanol also antagonized morphine but with a smaller potency (Ke = 350 nM). In the mouse vas deferens, no antagonist activity against morphine was observed with any morphinan derivative tested at 1 microM. In the rat thermal pain assay, beta-sulforphanol (intracisternally, i.c.) was more potent than alpha-sulforphanol in producing analgesia while the other morphinan derivatives were inactive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

New morphinan derivatives with negligible psychotropic effects attenuate convulsions induced by maximal electroshock in mice.

Interest in dextromethorphan (DM) has been renewed because of its anticonvulsant and neuroprotective properties. However, DM at supra-antitussive doses can produce psychotomimetic effects in humans. Recently, we demonstrated that DM exerts psychotropic effects in mice [Neurosci. Lett. 288 (2000) 76, Life Sci. 69 (2001) 615]. We synthesized a series of compounds with a modified morphinan ring system, with the intention of developing compounds that retain the anticonvulsant activity with weak psychotropic effects [Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 11 (2001) 1651]. In order to extend our understanding of the pharmacological intervention of these morphinans, we assessed their behavioral effects, and then examined whether they exert protective effects on maximal electroshock convulsions (MES) in mice. Repeated treatment (20 or 40 mg/kg, i.p./day x 7) with DM or dextrorphan (a major metabolite of DM; DX) significantly enhanced locomotor activity in a dose-related manner. This locomotor stimulation was accentuated more in the animals treated with DX, and might be comparable to that of phencyclidine (PCP). By contrast, treatment with a metabolite of DM [3-methoxymorphinan (3MM) or 3-hydroxymorphinan (3HM)], 3-allyloxy-17-methylmorphinan (CPK-5), or 3-cyclopropylmethoxy-17-methylmorphinan (CPK-6) did not significantly alter locomotor activity or patterns. The behavioral effects mediated by these morphinans and PCP paralleled the effects of conditioned place preference. DM, DX, CPK-5, and CPK-6 had anticonvulsant effects against MES, while 3MM and 3HM did not show any anticonvulsant effects. We found that DM, DX, CPK-5 and CPK-6 were high-affinity ligands at sigma(1) receptors, while they all had low affinity at sigma(2) receptors. DX had relatively higher affinity for the PCP sites than DM. By contrast, CPK-5 and CPK-6 had very low affinities for PCP sites, suggesting that PCP sites are not requisites for their anticonvulsant actions. Our results suggest that the new morphinan analogs are promising anticonvulsants that are devoid of PCP-like behavioral side effects, and their anticonvulsant actions may be, in part, mediated via sigma(1) receptors.

Animals↗

Characterization of a novel bivalent morphinan possessing kappa agonist and micro agonist/antagonist properties.

Previous research has shown that compounds with mixed kappa and mu activity may have utility for the treatment of cocaine abuse and dependence. The present study characterizes the pharmacological profile of a bivalent morphinan that was shown to be a kappa opioid receptor agonist and a mu opioid receptor agonist/antagonist. MCL-145 [bis(N-cyclobutylmethylmorphinan) fumarate] is related to the morphinan cyclorphan and its N-cyclobutylmethyl derivative MCL-101 [3-hydroxy-N-cyclobutylmethyl morphinan S-(+)-mandelate]. MCL-145 consists of two morphinans connected by a spacer at the 3-hydroxy position. This compound had K(i) values of 0.078 and 0.20 nM for the kappa and mu opioid receptors, respectively, using radioligand binding assays as shown by Neumeyer et al. in 2003. In the guanosine 5'-O -(3-[(35) S]thiotriphosphate) binding assay, MCL-145 produced an E(max) value of 80% for the kappa opioid receptor and 42% for the mu opioid receptor. The EC(50) values obtained for this compound were 4.3 and 3.1 nM for the kappa and mu opioid receptors, respectively. In vivo MCL-145 produced a full dose-response curve in the 55 degrees C warm water tail-flick test and was equipotent to morphine. The agonist properties of MCL-145 were antagonized by the mu-selective antagonist beta-funaltrexamine and the kappa-selective antagonist nor-binaltorphimine. MCL-145 also acted as a mu antagonist, as measured by the inhibition of morphine-induced antinociception.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

6-oxo-morphinane oximes: pharmacology, chemistry and analytical application.

The permanent therapeutic importance of morphine derivatives in pain treatment has inspired continual synthetic efforts to modify the rigid pentacyclic systems in search for new selective analgesic agents. As a result, several morphinane oximes have been synthesized recently, which have the additional advantage of possessing an oxime group that can provide a method for selective determination of opiate alkaloids in biological matrices. The oximes of hydrocodone and oxycodone have stronger analgesic effect than the parent ketones and they also proved to be effective in preventing the respiratory depressant and hypotensive actions of fentanyl. In this work a review is given on the present status of oxime pharmacology, chemistry and analysis and also the oxime and O-methyl oxime formation of 6-oxo-morphinanes with therapeutic interest (codeinone, oxycodone, hydrocodone and 14-OH-codeinone). The oxime formation was monitored by reversed-phase HPLC and the chromatographic properties of oxime isomers have been characterized. The assignation of the individual isomers isolated by preparative HPLC was performed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy based on the chemical shift differences of the 5-H signals. In this way the isomeric ratio in the oxime products could also be determined. It was found that in the case of Delta(7)-6-oxo-morphinanes, depending on the substituents, the formation of the Z-isomer highly dominates (73-96%) over that of the E-isomer. However, for the saturated 7,8-(dihydro) derivatives the E-isomer is definitely preferred (>98%). In conclusion of a survey on the theoretical background of oxime isomerism, the conformational differences between the saturated and unsaturated morphinane systems were found responsible for the different E/Z ratios. On the basis of the isomeric ratio and the on-line CD and UV spectra of the pure isomers, the molar ellipticities and absorbancies of the isomers were calculated by a parameter estimation method.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Morphinans attenuate cortical neuronal injury induced by glucose deprivation in vitro.

The non-narcotic dextrorotatory morphinan, dextrorphan, as well as its levorotatory opioid enantiomer, levorphanol, and its O-methyl derivative, dextromethorphan, have recently been shown to antagonize N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated neurotoxicity. Consistent with in vivo data suggesting that this neurotoxicity contributes to the neuronal damage associated with hypoglycemia, micromolar concentrations of these morphinans markedly attenuated the injury of cultured mouse cortical neurons produced by acute glucose deprivation. These observations lend specific support to the possibility that morphinan compounds may prove to have clinical therapeutic utility in hypoglycemic encephalopathy.

Animals↗

Morphinan neuroprotection: new insight into the therapy of neurodegeneration.

Neuro-inflammation plays a pivotal role in numerous neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Traditional anti-inflammatory drugs have limited therapeutic use because of their narrow spectrum and severe side effects after long-term use. Morphinans are a class of compounds containing the basic morphine structure. The following review will describe novel neuroprotective effects of several morphinans in multiple inflammatory disease models. The potential therapeutic utility and underlying mechanisms of morphinan neuroprotection are discussed.

Animals↗

Differential effects of morphinan drugs on haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats: a comparative study with an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist.

The effects of the morphinan drugs dextrorphan, dextromethorphan and levorphanol were tested towards the cataleptic activity induced by 1 mg/kg of haloperidol i.p. in rats. The influence of the morphinans was compared to that of the N-methyl-D-aspartate competitive antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid. 2-Amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (0.5 mumoles, i.c.v.), dextrorphan (7.5-15 mg/kg, i.p.) and dextromethorphan (15-30 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the degree of catalepsy in the haloperidol-treated rats within 15 min. Conversely, levorphanol (15-30 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the degree of catalepsy in the haloperidol-treated rats within 15 min. Naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) counteracted the potentiating effects of levorphanol. These findings demonstrate a differential influence of the morphinan stereoisomers dextrorphan and levorphanol on experimental catalepsy, and suggest a potential use of dextromethorphan in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Formic acid catalysed rearrangement of 5beta-methyldihydrothevinols (= 3,6-dimethoxy-5,17-dimethyl-4,5-epoxy-6,14-ethanomorphinan-7-methanols): synthesis of new doubly bridged morphinan derivatives.

We recently showed that substitution of a 5beta-methyl group allows the isolation of 14-alkenyldihydrocodeinones from the action of hot formic acid on certain dihydrothevinols. It has now been shown that, in those dihydrothevinols which are converted to stable side chain olefins by such treatment, introduction of a 5beta-methyl group results in the formation of new doubly bridged morphinan derivatives in addition to the dihydrocodeinones or olefins. The new morphinans have low affinities for opioid receptors.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Non-competitive inhibitory activities of morphinan and morphine derivatives at the alpha 3 beta 4 Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor determined using nonlinear chromatography and chemometric techniques.

PURPOSE: A series of morphine and morphinan derivatives were chromatographed on a column containing immobilized cellular membranes from a cell line expressing the alpha 3 beta 4 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha 3 beta 4 nAChR). METHODS: The results were analyzed using chemometric and molecular modeling techniques in order to predict the noncompetitive inhibitory (NCI) activity of these compounds, the molecular basis for the predicted activity and the binding sites of the inhibitors. RESULTS: The data demonstrated that seven of seven morphinans were NCIs and bound in the central lumen of the nAChR while only 2 of 13 morphine derivatives had NCI activity and these compounds most likely bound at the quinacrine binding site on the nAChR. The predicted activities were confirmed using functional inhibition studies. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that this approach can be used to rapidly assess pharmacological activity and to guide new drug design.

Binding Sites↗

Diversified electrophysiological properties of morphinan drugs in rats.

1. In in vivo and in vitro studies in rats, the effects of dextromethorphan (DM), dextrorphan (DX), and levorphanol (LV) were compared with those induced by kappa and sigma opiate agonists. 2. In rat hippocampal slices all the morphinans were able to pertubate the CAI hippocampal synaptic transmission, while only DX and LV affected the N-methyl-D-aspartate excitability through a possible interaction at sigma opiate receptors. 3. On the other hand EEG studies show that only DX appears to act as a full agonist at sigma opiate receptors. 4. Present data demonstrate diversified electrophysiological properties of morphinans both in in vitro and in vivo studies.

Animals↗

Synthesis and opioid receptor affinity of morphinan and benzomorphan derivatives: mixed kappa agonists and mu agonists/antagonists as potential pharmacotherapeutics for cocaine dependence.

This report concerns the synthesis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of a novel series of kappa agonists related to the morphinan (-)-cyclorphan (3a) and the benzomorphan (-)-cyclazocine (2) as potential agents for the pharmacotherapy of cocaine abuse. Recent evidence suggests that agonists acting at kappa opioid receptors may modulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons and alter the neurochemical and behavioral effects of cocaine. We describe the synthesis and chemical characterization of a series of morphinans 3a-c, structural analogues of cyclorphan [(-)-3-hydroxy-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan S(+)-mandelate, 3a], the 10-ketomorphinans 4a,b, and the 8-ketobenzomorphan 1b. Binding experiments demonstrated that the cyclobutyl analogue 3b [(-)-3-hydroxy-N-cyclobutylmethylmorphinan S(+)-mandelate, 3b, MCL-101] of cyclorphan (3a) had a high affinity for mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors in guinea pig brain membranes. Both 3a,b were approximately 2-fold more selective for the kappa receptor than for the mu receptor. However 3b (the cyclobutyl analogue) was 18-fold more selective for the kappa receptor in comparison to the delta receptor, while cyclorphan (3a) had only 4-fold greater affinity for the kappa receptor in comparison to the delta receptor. These findings were confirmed in the antinociceptive tests (tail-flick and acetic acid writhing) in mice, which demonstrated that cyclorphan (3a) produced antinociception that was mediated by the delta receptor while 3b did not produce agonist or antagonist effects at the delta receptor. Both 3a,b had comparable kappa agonist properties. 3a,b had opposing effects at the mu receptor: 3b was a mu agonist whereas 3a was a mu antagonist.

Acetic Acid↗

Morphinane alkaloids with cell protective effects from Sinomenium acutum.

One new morphinane alkaloid, sinomenine N-oxide (1), and one new natural occurring morphinane alkaloid, N-demethylsinomenine (2), together with six known alkaloids, 7,8-didehydro-4-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxymorphinan-6-ol (3), sinomenine (4), sinoacutine (5), N-norsinoacutine, acutumine, and acutumidine, were isolated from the stems of Sinomenium acutum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Compounds 2, 3, and 5 have protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell injury.

Alkaloids↗

Morphinan derivatives--A review of the recent patent literature.

Alkaloids extracted from the Papaverum somniferum are among the most powerfully acting and clinically used drugs for diseases of the central nervous system, in particular for pain. The basic ring system, common to these opiate alkaloids, is the morphinan skeleton, which in the last 50 years has been chemically manipulated to obtain compounds with improved potency and increased selectivity toward different populations of opioid receptors. Despite a huge amount of research, interest surrounding these compounds is still high. This review will discuss the patent applications published from January 2001 to June 2002, focusing on new chemical entities that could become drugs over the next few years, new chemical processes for the production of the morphinans currently used in therapy, novel formulations and combined compositions.

Ligands↗

Replenishment of brain adenosine triphosphate content by morphinan-type N-methyl-D-asparatate receptor antagonists, dextrorphan and dextromethorphan through the activation of adenylate kinase.

The in vitro effects of four N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, dextrorphan, (DX, CAS 125-73-5), dextromethorphan, (DM, CAS 125-71-3), dizocilpine (CAS 77086-21-6) and (+/-) 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate (AP-7, CAS 85797-13-3) on rat brain adenylate kinase (AK) have been studied. DM was the most active of the four compounds in increasing rat brain AK activity. DX was slightly less active than DM, while the most potent NMDA antagonist, dizocilpine was somewhat weaker than the above two morphinan analogs (DX and DM). For AP-7, the AK activity was unchanged. The results may indicate that a causal relation cannot be made between the activation of the AK by these compounds and their ability to act as NMDA antagonists. When DX was added, the Km and Vmax values of the enzyme for ADP as a substrate decreased and increased, respectively, possibly reflecting an affinity change for the enzyme-substrate interaction by DX. The observed increase in the AK activity by the morphinan-type NMDA antagonists in vitro might result in their preserving effects on cerebral neuron integrity under the conditions where cerebral energy metabolism is disturbed. This assumption was at least partly confirmed in in vivo tests in which DX, unlike dizocilpine, increased ATP content of the brain in mice under the influence of hypoxia exerted by i.v. injection of KCN.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗