Assessment of the influence of histaminergic actions on cocaine-like effects of 3alpha-diphenylmethoxytropane analogs

Previous studies demonstrated that analogs of benztropine (BZT) possess high affinity for the dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) but generally have behavioral effects different from those of cocaine, suggesting either unique actions at the DA transporter or that another action of these drugs interferes with cocaine-like effects. Because the parent compound has histamine-antagonistic effects, the affinity of its analogs for histamine H(1), H(2), and H(3) receptors were compared with DA transporter affinity to assess whether those differences predicted the amount of cocaine-like activity. All of the compounds displaced [(3)H]mepyramine from H(1), [(125)I]iodoaminopotentidine from H(2), and [(3)H]N-alpha-methylhistamine from H(3) histamine receptors with affinities ranging from 15.7 to 37,600, 218 to >4430, and 4040 to >150,000 nM, respectively. Affinities at histamine H(1) receptors were, respectively, approximately 25- or 300-fold greater than those at H(2) or H(3) histamine receptors. Relative affinities for H(1) and DAT binding did not reliably predict the degree of cocaine-like stimulation of locomotor activity. In addition, interactions of various histaminic agents with cocaine assessed whether an action at any of the histamine sites could interfere with cocaine-like effects. None of the histaminic agents fully substituted for cocaine in rats trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg cocaine from saline nor did any of the compounds antagonize or otherwise diminish the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine. The results suggest that affinity for histamine receptors cannot account for the diminished cocaine-like effects of the BZT analogs and suggest alternatively that these compounds have actions different from those of cocaine but likely mediated by their interaction with the DAT.

Relationship between in Vivo Occupancy at the Dopamine Transporter and Behavioral Effects of Cocaine, GBR 12909 [1-{2-[Bis-(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl}-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine], and Benztropine Analogs

Analogs of benztropine (BZT) bind to the dopamine (DA) transporter and inhibit DA uptake but often have behavioral effects that differ from those of cocaine and other DA-uptake inhibitors. To better understand these differences, we examined the relationship between locomotor-stimulant effects of cocaine, 1-{2-[bis-(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl}-4-(3-phenylpropyl)-piperazine (GBR 12909), and BZT analogs [(3alpha-[bis(4'-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-tropane) (AHN 1-055) and (N-allyl-3alpha-[bis(4'-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-tropane) (AHN 2-005)] and their in vivo displacement of the DA transporter ligand [125I]3beta-(4-iodophenyl)-tropan-2beta-carboxylic acid isopropyl ester hydrochloride (RTI-121) in striatum. Cocaine, GBR 12909, and BZT analogs each displaced [125I]RTI-121 and stimulated locomotor activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The time course revealed a slower onset of both effects for AHN 1-055 and AHN 2-005 compared with cocaine and GBR 12909. The BZT analogs were less effective than cocaine and GBR 12909 in stimulating locomotor activity. Locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine were generally greater than predicted by the regression of displacement of [125I]RTI-121 and effect at short times after injection and less than predicted at longer times after injection. This result suggests that the apparent rate of occupancy of the DA transporter, in addition to percentage of sites occupied, contributes to the behavioral effects of cocaine. The present results suggest that among drugs that act at the DA transporter, the slower apparent rates of occupancy with the DA transporter by the BZT analogs may contribute in an important way to differences in their effectiveness.

Synthesis and Pharmacology of 6-Substituted Benztropines: Discovery of Novel Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors Possessing Low Binding Affinity to the Dopamine Transporter

A series of 6alpha- and 6beta-substituted benztropines were synthesized. A marked enantioselectivity was observed for the 6beta-methoxylated benztropines, the (1R)-isomers being more potent than the corresponding (1S) compounds. The racemic 6alpha-methoxy-3-(4',4' '-difluorodiphenylmethoxy)tropane (5 g) was the most potent compound. It has been found that modifications at the 6-position of benztropine might reduce the DAT binding affinity, maintaining otherwise a significant dopamine uptake inhibitory activity. A reinvestigation of the absolute configuration of 6beta-methoxytropinone proved the 6R configuration for the (+)-enantiomer.

Place Conditioning and Locomotor Effects of N-Substituted, 4′,4′′-Difluorobenztropine Analogs in Rats

Previous studies demonstrated that analogs of benztropine [3alpha-(diphenyl-methoxy)tropane (BZT)] bind to the dopamine (DA) transporter with high affinity, inhibit DA uptake, but do not maintain rates of responding in self-administration procedures comparable with those maintained by cocaine. Some BZT analogs have an onset of action that is slower than that for cocaine that may contribute to this decreased effectiveness. In addition, some BZT analogs have affinity for muscarinic-M1 receptors that may interfere with reinforcing effects. The present study assessed effects of BZT analogs in place-conditioning procedures designed to accommodate variations in onset of effect. BZT analogs with variations in relative affinities for the DA transporter over M1 receptors from equal [AHN 1-055 (3alpha-[bis(4'-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-tropane)] to 16-fold [JHW 007 (N-(n-butyl)-3alpha-[bis(4'-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-tropane)] were compared with cocaine and the muscarinic antagonist, atropine. Cocaine (10-20 mg/kg) but not atropine (1.0-5.6 mg/kg) produced dose-related place conditioning. The N-methyl-substituted BZT analog, AHN 1-055, was without significant effects at doses that ranged from 0.3 to 3.0 mg/kg and when administered up to 90 min before conditioning trials. In contrast, effects of AHN 2-005 (N-allyl-3alpha-[bis(4'-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-tropane; 0.1-10.0 mg/kg) were significant, and those of JHW 007 approached significance when administered 45 min but not immediately or 90 min before trials. Atropine blocked the effect of AHN 2-005 and approached significant antagonism of cocaine. The present study further supports and extends previous results showing minimal preclinical indications of abuse liability of BZT analogs and suggests that these differences from cocaine are not entirely accounted for by a slower onset of action or muscarinic M1 receptor affinity.

Effects of 4′-Chloro-3α-(diphenylmethoxy)-tropane on Mesostriatal, Mesocortical, and Mesolimbic Dopamine Transmission: Comparison with Effects of Cocaine

Increase in dopamine (DA) neurotransmission resulting from blockade of the DA transporter (DAT) after administration of cocaine is believed to play a major role in mediating its behavioral and reinforcing effects. Since it was hypothesized that drugs that block the DAT have cocaine-like behavioral effects, it was of interest to study in the present article the stimulant effects of cocaine on locomotor activity and on pattern of activation of DA neurotransmission in different DAergic terminal areas in rats and compare these effects with those of 4'-chloro-3alpha-(diphenylmethoxy)-tropane (4-Cl-BZT), a benztropine analog showing higher affinity for the DAT, but reduced behavioral effects compared with cocaine. Administration of cocaine resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of locomotor activity and DA neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens shell and core, dorsal caudate, and in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFCX) measured by microdialysis. At comparable doses, the effects of 4-Cl-BZT on DA levels in all brain areas except the PFCX were generally reduced compared with those of cocaine, as were the effects on locomotor activity. The differences in behavioral effects corresponded generally to differences between the drugs with regard to their stimulation of extracellular DA levels, although the mechanism(s) for the differences in extracellular DA may involve effects mediated by sites other than the DAT or differences in the efficiency of the two drugs in blocking DA uptake. Nonetheless, the present results suggest that the differences in behavioral effects between cocaine and 4-Cl-BZT are related to differences in their patterns of activation of DA transmission.

Antipsychotic and anticholinergic effects on two types of spatial memory in schizophrenia

Spatial memory is of interest in schizophrenia because of widespread impairments in adaptive functioning, including independent living skills. Short-term spatial memory is impaired in this disease, whereas spatial reference memory, a longer-term spatial memory, has not been evaluated. Animal studies have demonstrated that anticholinergics impair short-term spatial memory but not spatial reference memory. The effects of haloperidol and risperidone on these two types of spatial memory were evaluated in a double-blind randomized comparison in inpatients with schizophrenia. It was predicted that risperidone would have a greater beneficial effect on spatial working memory than haloperidol. Computerized measures of spatial working memory and spatial reference memory were developed based on animal assessment of these functions. Subjects with schizophrenia were assessed during a medication-free period and again following 4 weeks of fixed-dose treatment. Risperidone, compared to haloperidol, improved spatial working memory performance, an effect that became nonsignificant when benztropine co-treatment was controlled. There were no treatment effects on spatial reference memory performance. Consistent with animal studies, benztropine impaired spatial working memory but not spatial reference memory. The relative benefits of risperidone on spatial working memory performance were largely explained by differential benztropine treatment for the haloperidol-treated subjects.

Effects of N-substituted analogs of benztropine: diminished cocaine-like effects in dopamine transporter ligands

Previous studies demonstrated that analogs of benztropine (BZT) possess high affinity for the dopamine transporter, inhibit dopamine uptake, but generally have behavioral effects different from those of cocaine. One hypothesis is that muscarinic-M(1) receptor actions interfere with cocaine-like effects. Several tropane-nitrogen substitutions of 4',4"-diF-BZT have reduced M(1) affinity compared with the CH(3)-analog (AHN 1-055; 3alpha-[bis-(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]tropane). All of the compounds displaced [(3)H]WIN 35,428 (2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane) binding with affinities ranging from 11 to 108 nM. Affinities at norepinephrine ([(3)H]nisoxetine) and serotonin ([(3)H]citalopram) transporters ranged from 457 to 4810 and 376 to 3260 nM, respectively, and at muscarinic M(1) receptors ([(3)H]pirenzepine) from 11.6 (AHN 1-055) to higher values, reaching 1030 nM for the other BZT-analogs. Cocaine and AHN 1-055 produced dose-related increases in locomotor activity in mice, with AHN 1-055 less effective than cocaine. The other compounds were ineffective in stimulating activity. In rats discriminating cocaine (29 micromol/kg i.p.) from saline, WIN 35,428 fully substituted for cocaine, whereas AHN 1-055 produced a maximal substitution of 79%. None of the other analogs fully substituted for cocaine. WIN 35,428 produced dose-related leftward shifts in the cocaine dose-effect curve, whereas selected BZT analogs produced minimal changes in the effects of cocaine. The results suggest that reducing M(1) affinity of 4',4"-diF-BZT with N-substitutions reduces effectiveness in potentiating the effects of cocaine. Furthermore, although the BZT-analogs bind with high affinity at the dopamine transporter, their behavioral effects differ from those of cocaine. These compounds have reduced efficacy compared with cocaine, a long duration of action, and may serve as leads for the development of medications to treat cocaine abuse.

Gene expression deficits in a subclass of GABA neurons in the prefrontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia

Markers of inhibitory neurotransmission are altered in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of subjects with schizophrenia, and several lines of evidence suggest that these alterations may be most prominent in the subset of GABA-containing neurons that express the calcium-binding protein, parvalbumin (PV). To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the expression of mRNAs for PV, another calcium-binding protein, calretinin (CR), and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) in postmortem brain specimens from 15 pairs of subjects with schizophrenia and matched control subjects using single- and dual-label in situ hybridization. Signal intensity for PV mRNA expression in PFC area 9 was significantly decreased in the subjects with schizophrenia, predominantly in layers III and IV. Analysis at the cellular level revealed that this decrease was attributable principally to a reduction in PV mRNA expression per neuron rather than by a decreased density of PV mRNA-positive neurons. In contrast, the same measures of CR mRNA expression were not altered in schizophrenia. These findings were confirmed by findings from cDNA microarray studies using different probes. Across the subjects with schizophrenia, the decrease in neuronal PV mRNA expression was highly associated (r = 0.84) with the decrease in the density of neurons containing detectable levels of GAD67 mRNA. Furthermore, simultaneous detection of PV and GAD67 mRNAs revealed that in subjects with schizophrenia only 55% of PV mRNA-positive neurons had detectable levels of GAD67 mRNA. Given the critical role that PV-containing GABA neurons appear to play in regulating the cognitive functions mediated by the PFC, the selective alterations in gene expression in these neurons may contribute to the cognitive deficits characteristic of schizophrenia.

The uptake inhibitors cocaine and benztropine differentially alter the conformation of the human dopamine transporter

The binding affinity of the cocaine analog [(3)H]2 beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl) tropane (WIN) for the dopamine transporter (DAT) is increased by the reaction of Cys-90, at the extracellular end of the first transmembrane segment, with methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagents. Cocaine enhances the reaction of Cys-90 with the sulfhydryl reagents, thereby augmenting the increase in binding. In contrast, cocaine decreases the reaction of Cys-135 and Cys-342, endogenous cysteines in cytoplasmic loops, with MTS reagents. Because this reaction inhibits [(3)H]WIN binding, cocaine protects against the loss of binding caused by reaction of these cysteines. In the present work, we compare the abilities of DAT inhibitors and substrates to affect the reaction of Cys-90, Cys-135, and Cys-342 with MTS ethyltrimethylammonium (MTSET). The results indicate that the different abilities of compounds to protect against the MTSET-induced inhibition of binding are attributable to differences in their abilities to attenuate the inhibitory effects of modification of Cys-135 and Cys-342 as well as to enhance the reaction with Cys-90 and the resulting potentiation of binding. The inhibitor benztropine was unique in its inability to protect Cys-135. Moreover, whereas cocaine, WIN, mazindol, and dopamine enhanced the reaction of Cys-90 with MTSET, benztropine had no effect on this reaction. These two features combine to give benztropine its weak potency in protecting ligand binding to wild-type DAT from MTSET. These results indicate that different inhibitors of DAT, such as cocaine and benztropine, produce different conformational changes in the transporter. There are differences in the psychomotor stimulant-like effects of these compounds, and it is possible that the different behavioral effects of these DAT inhibitors stem from their different molecular actions on DAT.

Effects of benztropine on ketamine-induced behaviors in Cebus monkeys

Ketamine, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor antagonist, causes a schizophrenic-like psychosis in normal volunteers and exacerbates psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Recent work has shown that ketamine and other NMDA antagonists affect a range of behaviors in nonhuman primates, particularly those associated with motor and mental function such as attention and perception. Several lines of study also suggest that NMDA antagonists interact with cholinergic mechanisms. The effects of benztropine, an anticholinergic agent, on ketamine-induced behaviors were evaluated in a double-blind randomized test design in 20 Cebus monkeys. Benztropine (0.05, 0.1 and 0.25 mg/kg, i.m.) was injected 1 hour before ketamine (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, i.m.) administration. Behaviors scored for 90 minutes after ketamine administration included salivation, dystonia and reactivity to external stimuli. Benztropine almost completely blocked ketamine-induced hypersalivation, and partially ameliorated the dystonia syndrome by 50%, but did not affect ketamine-induced decreased reactivity to external stimuli. These results suggest that cholinergic mechanisms only moderately influence ketamine-induced central nervous system effects of motor dysfunction, and may not play a substantive role in the ketamine-induced deficit of reactivity to external stimuli, which involves a complex interaction of mental functions such as attention and perception, as well as motor behavior.

Low muscarinic receptor binding in prefrontal cortex from subjects with schizophrenia: a study of Brodmann's areas 8, 9, 10, and 46 and the effects of neuroleptic drug treatment

OBJECTIVE

Aberrant cholinergic inputs and synaptic neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex induce cognitive impairment, which is a central feature of schizophrenia. Postsynaptic excitatory muscarinic cholinergic M(1) and M(4) receptors are the major cholinoceptive targets in the prefrontal cortex and hence may be involved in the pathology and/or pharmacotherapeutics of schizophrenia.

METHOD

Using quantitative autoradiography, the authors analyzed the binding of the M(1)/M(4) receptor selective antagonist [(3)H]pirenzepine in prefrontal cortex (Brodmann's areas 8, 9, 10, and 46) from schizophrenia patients who had (N=6) or had not (N=11) been treated with the anticholinergic agent benztropine mesylate and from normal comparison subjects (N=20). Moreover, preliminary studies of [(3)H]pirenzepine binding in rat frontal cortex following administration of antipsychotic drugs or benztropine mesylate were performed.

RESULTS

Relative to those of comparison subjects, the mean levels of [(3)H]pirenzepine binding were significantly lower in Brodmann's areas 9 and 46 of the schizophrenia patients not treated with benztropine mesylate (18% lower in Brodmann's area 9 and 21% lower in Brodmann's area 46) and in all four examined regions of the patients who had received benztropine (51%-64% lower). Antipsychotic or anticholinergic drugs tended to increase or have no effect on the density of [(3)H]pirenzepine-labeled receptors in rat frontal cortex.

CONCLUSIONS

Because M(1) and M(4) receptors are critical to the functions of prefrontal cortical acetylcholine, the present findings suggest a functional impairment in cholinergic neurotransmission in schizophrenia and the possibility that muscarinic receptors are involved in the pharmacotherapeutics of the disorder.

Dopamine transporter binding without cocaine-like behavioral effects: synthesis and evaluation of benztropine analogs alone and in combination with cocaine in rodents

RATIONALE

Previous SAR studies demonstrated that small halogen substitutions on the diphenylether system of benztropine (BZT), such as a para-Cl group, retained high affinity at the cocaine binding site on the dopamine transporter. Despite this high affinity, the compounds generally had behavioral effects different from those of cocaine. However, compounds with meta-Cl substitutions had effects more similar to those of cocaine.

OBJECTIVES

A series of phenyl-ring analogs of benztropine (BZT) substituted with 3'-, 4'-, 3',4"- and 4',4"-position Cl-groups were synthesized and their pharmacology was evaluated in order to assess more fully the contributions to pharmacological activity of substituents in these positions.

METHODS

Compounds were synthesized and their pharmacological activity was assessed by examining radioligand binding and behavioral techniques.

RESULTS

All of the compounds displaced [3H]WIN 35,428 binding with affinities ranging from 20 to 32.5 nM. Affinities at norepinephrine ([3H]nisoxetine) and serotonin ([3H]citalopram) transporters, respectively, ranged from 259 to 5120 and 451 to 2980 nM. Each of the compounds also inhibited [3H]pirenzepine binding to muscarinic M1 receptors, with affinities ranging from 0.98 to 47.9 nM. Cocaine and the BZT analogs produced dose-related increases in locomotor activity in mice. However, maximal effects of the BZT analogs were uniformly less than those produced by cocaine, and were obtained 2-3 h after injection compared to the relatively rapid onset (within 30 min) of cocaine effects. In rats trained to discriminate i.p. saline from 29 mumol/kg cocaine (10 mg/kg), cocaine produced a dose-related increase in responding on the cocaine lever, reaching 100% at the training dose; however, none of the BZT analogs fully substituted for cocaine, with maximum cocaine responding from 20 to 69%. Despite their reduced efficacy compared to cocaine in cocaine discrimination, none of the analogs antagonized the effects of cocaine. As has been reported previously for 4'-Cl-BZT, the cocaine discriminative-stimulus effects were shifted left-ward by co-administration of the present BZT analogs.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results indicate that although the BZT analogs bind with relatively high affinity and selectivity at the dopamine transporter, their behavioral profile is distinct from that of cocaine. The present results suggest that analogs of BZT may be useful as treatments for cocaine abuse in situations in which an agonist treatment is indicated. These compounds possess features such as reduced efficacy compared to cocaine and a long duration of action that may render them particularly useful leads for the development of therapeutics for cocaine abusers.

Further studies of the reinforcing effects of benztropine analogs in rhesus monkeys

RATIONALE

Several halogenated analogs of benztropine (BZT) have previously been characterized as potent DA uptake inhibitors with behavioral profiles that indicate diminished psychomotor stimulant effects relative to cocaine. In a previous study using a fixed-ratio 10 schedule, two chloro-analogs (3'-Cl-BZT and 4'-Cl-BZT) maintained i.v. self-administration in monkeys but appeared to be weak positive reinforcers.

OBJECTIVES

The present experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that 3'-Cl-BZT and 4'-Cl-BZT are relatively weak reinforcers by evaluating reinforcing effects under increased response requirements. To examine further the effect of this halogen substitution on self-administration, 3',4"-diCl-BZT was also evaluated for reinforcing effects.

METHODS

Four rhesus monkeys self-administered cocaine (0.03 mg/kg per injection, i.v.) under a fixed-ratio 25 (FR25) schedule until stable responding was established. Saline, various doses of cocaine (0.003-0.2 mg/kg per injection), the BZT analogs (0.012-0.2 mg/kg per injection), GBR 12909 (0.012-0.2 mg/kg per injection), and compounds with known reinforcing effects (d-amphetamine, morphine, pentobarbital, ketamine) were then made available for self-administration. Various doses (0.01-0.3 mg/kg per injection) of the compounds that maintained self-administration under the FR schedule were then substituted for cocaine (0.1 mg/kg per injection) under progressive-ratio (PR) schedules.

RESULTS

Reinforcing effects were evident under the FR schedule for 3'-Cl-BZT, 4'-Cl-BZT, GBR 12909, and the control compounds, but not by 3',4"-diCl-BZT. Results with the PR suggested that the rank order of these compounds for their effectiveness as reinforcers was cocaine > GBR 12909 > 3'-Cl-BZT = 4'-Cl-BZT >> 3',4"-diCl-BZT.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms and extends previous results suggesting that compounds with high DAT affinity can have strong, moderate, weak, or no effectiveness as reinforcers. The mechanisms that may underlie this variation in reinforcing effectiveness of these DAT ligands remain to be established.

Effects of two-carbon bridge region methoxylation of benztropine: discovery of novel chiral ligands for the dopamine transporter

6-Methoxylated and 8-oxygenated benztropines were prepared and evaluated for their DAT and SERT activity (binding and uptake inhibition). Methoxylation at the two-carbon bridge of benztropine produced a novel class of potent and selective DAT ligands. An interesting enantioselectivity was also observed for this new class of chiral benztropines. The inactivity of the 8-oxygenated analogues seems to point out that, unlike cocaine and its analogues, interactions of benztropine ligands with DAT may be strongly governed by the nitrogen atom.

Antagonism of oxotremorine-induced behavioral suppression by antimuscarinic drugs

The effects of benztropine, scopolamine, atropine, methylatropine, amitriptyline, phencyclidine, and meperidine were determined alone and in conjunction with a behaviorally suppressing dose (0.05 mg/kg IM) of oxotremorine in pigeons responding under a multiple fixed-ratio 30 fixed-interval 5-min schedule of grain presentation. Benztropine, scopolamine, atropine, and amitriptyline antagonized the behavioral suppressing effects of oxotremorine at doses that alone decreased responding. In contrast, methylatropine, phencyclidine, and meperidine did not antagonize the effects of oxotremorine. These results suggest that benztropine, scopolamine, atropine, and amitripytline decrease responding due to an action at central muscarinic receptors, whereas the behavioral effects of methylatropine, phencyclidine, and meperidine are due to actions other than at central muscarinic receptors.

3'- and 4'-chloro-substituted analogs of benztropine: intravenous self-administration and in vitro radioligand binding studies in rhesus monkeys

RATIONALE

The reinforcing effects of many psychomotor stimulants have been related to increased dopaminergic neurotransmission. Drugs that block dopamine (DA) uptake have generally been found to function as positive reinforcers. Benztropine (BZT) and several of its halogenated analogs have previously been characterized as potent DA-uptake inhibitors with behavioral profiles that indicate diminished psychomotor stimulant effects relative to cocaine.

OBJECTIVES

The present experiments were designed to examine, in rhesus monkeys, the reinforcing effects of the DA-uptake inhibitor BZT and two chloro-analogs 3'-Cl-BZT and 4'-Cl-BZT, and to compare self-administration and binding profiles.

METHODS

Four rhesus monkeys self-administered cocaine i.v. under a fixed-ratio 10 (FR10) schedule until stable responding was established. Saline, and various doses of cocaine, BZT, and the BZT analogs were then made available for self-administration. Binding of these compounds to monoaminergic and cholinergic sites in monkey brain were determined using standard radioligand binding techniques.

RESULTS

Self-administration was maintained by both 3'-Cl-BZT and 4'-Cl-BZT, but not by BZT. Results suggested that 3'-Cl-BZT and 4'-Cl-BZT were weak positive reinforcers. BZT and analogs bound DA transporters (DAT) with affinities higher than that of cocaine and had affinity for muscarinic binding sites.

CONCLUSIONS

Surprisingly, high affinity at DATs was associated with weak or no reinforcing effects. The mechanism(s) that may underlie this dissociation between DAT actions and reinforcing effects remains to be established. These data support the proposal that a lead for the discovery of a pharmacotherapeutic agent for cocaine abuse may come from this group of compounds.

Behavioral and neurochemical effects of the dopamine transporter ligand 4-chlorobenztropine alone and in combination with cocaine in vivo

The current studies evaluated the novel diphenylmethoxytropane analog 4-chlorobenztropine (4-Cl-BZT), cocaine, and combinations of the two drugs for their abilities to stimulate locomotor activity, produce cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects, and elevate extracellular dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) as measured by in vivo microdialysis. Peripherally administered cocaine was approximately twice as efficacious as 4-Cl-BZT as a locomotor stimulant and was behaviorally active at a lower dose than was 4-Cl-BZT. Cocaine also was more efficacious than 4-Cl-BZT in producing discriminative-stimulus effects in rats trained to discriminate i.p. injections of 10 mg/kg cocaine from saline. The time course of behavioral activation differed markedly between the two drugs, with much shorter onset and duration of locomotor stimulant effects for cocaine relative to 4-Cl-BZT. Similarly, i.p. cocaine (10 and 40 mg/kg) induced a pronounced, rapid, and short-lived increase in DA in the NAc, whereas i.p. 4-Cl-BZT was effective only at the higher dose and produced a more gradual, modest, and sustained (>/=2 h) elevation in accumbens DA. In contrast to i.p. administration, local infusion of 4-Cl-BZT (1-100 microM) into the NAc through the microdialysis probe elevated extracellular DA to a much greater extent than did local cocaine (nearly 2000% of baseline maximally for 4-Cl-BZT versus 400% of baseline for cocaine) and displayed a much longer duration of action than cocaine. However, when microinjected bilaterally into the NAc at 30 or 300 nmol/side, cocaine remained a more efficacious locomotor stimulant than 4-Cl-BZT. Finally, pretreatment with i.p. 4-Cl-BZT dose dependently enhanced the locomotor stimulant, discriminative stimulus effects, and NAc DA response to a subsequent low-dose i.p. cocaine challenge. The diphenylmethoxytropane analog also facilitated the emergence of stereotyped behavior and convulsions induced by high-dose cocaine. The current results demonstrate that DA transporter ligands that do not share the neurochemical and behavioral profiles of cocaine nevertheless may enhance the effects of cocaine in vivo.

Developing hypothalamic dopaminergic neurones as potential targets for environmental estrogens

Environmental chemicals which mimic the actions of estrogen have the potential to affect any estrogen responsive tissue. The aim of the present study was to investigate their potential to mimic the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2) on developing primary rat hypothalamic dopaminergic (DA) neurones maintained in a chemically defined medium. We now show that both E2 and octylphenol (OP), but not the non-aromatizable androgen, dihydrotestosterone, enhanced the uptake of [3H]DA by the cultured cells, whereas they had no effect on the uptake of [14C]GABA. Although the sensitivity of responses may change with the age of the developing cultures, the dose response curves for E2 and OP were typically 'bell-shaped', with a rise in response followed by a decline to control levels with increasing concentrations. Effects were seen as low as 10(-14) M for E2 and 10(-11) M for OP. Responses to E2 (10(-12) M) and OP (10(-9) M) were reversed in the presence of the antiestrogen, ZM 182780 (10(-5) M). This study thus provides direct evidence, using a mechanistic rather than toxicological end-point, in support of the hypothesis that inappropriate exposure to environmental estrogens at critically sensitive stages of development, could potentially perturb the organisational activities of estrogen on selected neuronal populations in the CNS.

Interaction of benztropine and haloperidol actions on rat substantia nigra dopamine cell electrophysiological activity in vivo

Despite the known efficacy of antimuscarinic agents in treating dopamine-related movement disorders, their effects on dopamine cell activity have not been well studied. We investigated the effects of systemically administered benztropine, an antimuscarinic agent that also inhibits the dopamine transporter, on substantia nigra dopamine neuron electrophysiological activity. Benztropine caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the firing rate of dopamine neurons in control rats but exerted baseline-dependent changes in burst firing. In rats pre-treated with haloperidol, which prevents the effects of dopamine transporter inhibitors on dopamine cell activity, benztropine either increased or decreased firing rate; however, it consistently increased burst firing. Thus, the antimuscarinic and psychostimulant properties of benztropine have differential effects on dopamine neuron firing rate and burst firing. The increase in burst firing seen in the presence of haloperidol may mediate some of the therapeutic effects of benztropine in the treatment of antipsychotic drug-induced movement disorders.

Neuropsychological deficits in psychotic versus nonpsychotic unipolar depression

A broad range of neuropsychological function was compared in samples of young adult unipolar depressed inpatients with and without psychotic features. Consistent with expectations, the psychotic depressive group demonstrated a broad range of deficit and had more impaired performances than the nonpsychotic group. Relevance of these data for hypotheses concerning psychotic depression as a unique diagnostic entity is discussed. In the context of previous research, the current findings suggest that accounting for individual differences in depression may clarify discrepancies between earlier studies of neuropsychological function in depression, and our understanding of the mechanisms by which depression influences cognition may be refined.

Imipramine inhibition of transient K+ current: an external open channel blocker preventing fast inactivation

Rapidly inactivating K+ current (KA current) is recorded from rat hippocampal neurons by whole-cell patch-clamp technique and suitable voltage protocols. It is found that imipramine, a commonly prescribed tricyclic antidepressant, is an open KA channel blocker with a binding rate constant of 5.6 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 and an apparent dissociation constant of no more than 6 microM if applied extracellularly in pH 7.4. The inhibitory effect is more pronounced in more alkaline extracellular solution, suggesting that the neutral form of imipramine is much more active than the charged form. In contrast, intracellular imipramine shows no inhibitory effect. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of imipramine is antagonized by external but not internal K+. These findings suggest an imipramine binding site located close to the external pore mouth. It is also found that the inactivation curve of KA current is not changed by imipramine. Moreover, the recovery of KA current after a step depolarization is accelerated in the presence of imipramine. These findings suggest insignificant binding of imipramine to the fast inactivated KA channel. The selective binding of imipramine to only the activated but not the deactivated or inactivated states seems to suggest continual gating conformational changes in the external pore mouth of these neuronal KA channels during membrane depolarization.

3'-Chloro-3 alpha-(diphenylmethoxy)tropane but not 4'-chloro-3 alpha-(diphenylmethoxy)tropane produces a cocaine-like behavioral profile

A series of 2'- and 3'-substituted and 3',3"-disubstituted 3 alpha-(diphenylmethoxy)tropane analogs were designed and synthesized as novel probes for the dopamine transporter. All the analogs were evaluated for displacement of [3H]WIN 35,428 binding at the dopamine transporter and for inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake in rat caudate putamen. Compounds were observed to monophasically displace [3H]WIN 35,428 binding to the dopamine transporter with affinities of 21.6-1836 nM (Ki). Generally, meta-substituted compounds were more potent than benztropine and equipotent to or slightly less potent than their previously reported para-substituted homologs in inhibiting [3H]WIN 35,428 binding. However, these same meta-substituted analogs were typically less potent than the 4'-substituted analogs in inhibiting [3H]dopamine uptake. Ortho-substituted analogs were generally less potent in both binding and inhibition of uptake at the dopamine transporter than either benztropine or other aryl-substituted homologs. The analogs were also tested for binding at norepinephrine and serotonin transporters as well as muscarinic m1 receptors. None of the compounds in the present study bound with high affinity to either the norepinephrine or serotonin transporters, but all bound to muscarinic m1 receptors with high affinity (K1 = 0.41-2.52 nM). Interestingly, 3'-chloro-3 alpha-(diphenylmethoxy)tropane (5c) produced effects like cocaine in animals trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg cocaine from saline, unlike its 4'-Cl homolog and all of the previously evaluated benztropine analogs. Further evaluation of compound 5c and the other benztropine analogs will undoubtedly prove useful in the elucidation of the role of the dopamine transporter in the reinforcing effects of cocaine and the ultimate identification of a cocaine-abuse treatment.

Effects of benztropine on behavioral and toxic effects of cocaine: comparison with atropine and the selective dopamine uptake inhibitor 1-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-4-(3-phenyl-propyl)-piperazine

Behavioral effects of cocaine that are relevant to its abuse have been associated with pharmacological actions at the dopamine uptake carrier. Benztropine (Cogentin) is an antiparkinson agent that has limited abuse despite its ability to block dopamine uptake, and has been suggested as a candidate for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Preclinical studies were conducted to assess the behavioral and toxic effects of benztropine alone and in conjunction with cocaine. Because of the mixed pharmacology of benztropine which includes antimuscarinic as well as dopaminergic actions, results obtained from parallel experiments with atropine and the selective dopamine uptake inhibitor, GBR 12935 (1-[2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]-4-(3-phenyl-propyl)-piperazine), were performed. All of the drugs stimulated locomotor activity of mice, but atropine and benztropine had much lower efficacy. Nonstimulatory doses of GBR 12935 enhanced the locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine, whereas benztropine and atropine did not share this effect. GBR 12935, benztropine and cocaine increased fixed-interval responding, whereas atropine decreased fixed-interval response rates in rats. Only GBR 12935 and cocaine increased responding during timeout periods. GBR 12935, but not benztropine or atropine, fully reproduced the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine (10 mg/kg). GBR 12935 and atropine augmented the discriminative stimulus effects of lower cocaine doses in rats. Only GBR 12935 and cocaine had convulsant effects and only GBR 12935 significantly enhanced the convulsant effects of cocaine in mice. These results document a behavioral and toxicity profile for benztropine distinct from that of classical dopamine uptake blockers. The data underscore further the potential of benztropine as a candidate for clinical evaluation in the treatment of cocaine dependence.

Modulatory effect of agents active in the presynaptic dopaminergic system on the striatal dopamine transporter

We have investigated the effects of agents active in the presynaptic dopaminergic system on the characterization of the rat striatal dopamine transporter. The dopamine transporter was characterized by high-affinity [3H]GBR 12935 (1-[2-diphenylmethoxy)-ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)-piperazine) binding to a membrane preparation and by [3H]dopamine uptake into striatal synaptosomes. Subchronic treatment with reserpine (2.5 mg/kg, 4 days), a monoamine depletor, caused a significant decrease in both [3H]GBR 12935 binding (20%) and [3H]dopamine uptake (51%). In contrast, amantadine (a dopamine releaser) treatment (20 mg/kg, 21 days) induced an increase (28%) in the maximal number of [3H]GBR 12935 sites. Chronic levo-dopa (dopamine precursor) treatment combined with carbidopa (50 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg respectively, 21 days) as well as benztropine (dopamine uptake inhibitor) treatment (10 mg/kg, 21 days) did not affect the striatal dopamine transporter characteristics. The present results showed that the striatal dopamine transporter is sensitive to changes in dopaminergic neurotransmission caused by agents that do not interact directly with the dopamine carrier.

2-Carbomethoxy-3-(diarylmethoxy)-1 alpha H, 5 alpha H-tropane analogs: synthesis and inhibition of binding at the dopamine transporter and comparison with piperazines of the GBR series

We recently reported a new class of tropanes, based on benztropine, that bind uniquely, in the S-configuration, to the dopamine transporter. We have now extended this series to evaluate the effects of substituents on the nitrogen and the diarylmethoxy group. Herein we have described the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of 2-carbomethoxy-3-(diaryl-methoxy)-1 alpha H, 5 alpha H-tropane (2-carbomethoxybenztropine) analogs. Examination of the binding data obtained for these compounds shows that while the 4,4'-difluoro compound is potent and selective for the dopamine transporter, introduction of larger groups such as 4,4'-dichloro, 4,4'- dibromo, 4,4'-diiodo, or 4,4'dimethyl on the 3-diphenylmethoxy moiety reduces this potency. However, although introduction of only one group (e.g., 4-chloro, 4-bromo, 4-iodo, or 4-methyl) leads to a similar reduction of binding affinity, these monosubstituted 2-carbomethoxybenztropines are significantly more potent than the related disubstituted compounds. Finally, from the data for the N-substituted 2-carbomethoxybenztropine analogs, it is evident that steric bulk can be tolerated at the nitrogen site. A comparison of structure-activity relationship data for the tropanes, GBR analogs, and these benztropines indicates that the 2-carbomethoxybenztropine analogs may be more like the GBR analogs in their mode of binding to the dopamine transporter than like the tropanes. This conclusion supports the notion that the binding site for (-)-cocaine [and the (1R)-tropanes] may differ from of the 2-carbomethoxybenztropine analogs.