Dopamine receptor agonist activity of U-66444B and its enantiomers: Evaluation of functional, biochemical, and pharmacokinetic properties

Visible-Light-Induced Photoannulation of α-Naphthyl Cyclopropane Carboxylic Esters to Functionalized Dihydrophenalenes

A general synthetic entry to functionalized dihydrophenalenes has been found using naphthyl-cyclopropane esters as starting materials. The desired annulation was possible with visible light, Ir(Fppy)₃ as photocatalyst, BnNMe₂ or DABCO as electron donor, HAT-catalyst, and proton source. A broad scope of substituted naphthyl and azanaphthyl derivatives provided the photoannulation products in high yield. Deuteration studies support a photoredox mechanism involving the photoreductive cyclopropane opening to an enolate radical followed by an aryl radical trapping.

Pharmacology of U-91356A, an agonist for the dopamine D2 receptor subtype

U-91356A [(R)-5,6-dihydro-5-(propylamino)4H-imidazo[4,5,1-ij]quinolin -2-(1H)-one, monohydrochloride], bound with highest affinity to the dopamine D2 receptor subtype, although it also bound with somewhat lower affinities to the dopamine D3 and D4, as well as the 5-HT1A receptor subtypes. In addition to depressing dopamine synthesis and turnover, injection of U-91356A increased striatal acetylcholine concentrations. U-91356A also depressed firing rates of dopamine neurons. In mice, this compound stimulated cage climbing and locomotor activity in reserpinized animals; it also antagonized D-amphetamine-stimulated locomotor activity. It produced contralateral turning in rats with unilateral lesions of the substantia nigra. These data are consistent with roles for the dopamine D2 receptor subtype as a dopamine autoreceptor and as a stimulatory, postsynaptic dopamine receptor.

Chronic nicotine-induced changes in dopaminergic system: effect on behavioral response to dopamine agonist

The effect of chronic nicotine on dopamine-agonist-mediated locomotor activity response was measured in BALB/cBy and C57BL/6 mice. Mice were injected twice daily for 10 days with 1.2 mg/kg SC (-)-nicotine di-(+)tartrate. Subsequent locomotor activity response to apomorphine (1 mg/kg SC) was measured. Apomorphine induced hypomotility in both strains of mice, with the BALB/cBy mice showing a greater hypomotility compared to the C57BL/6 mice. The response to apomorphine was attenuated in both strains of mice that were treated previously with repeated injections of nicotine. The results suggest that chronic nicotine may induce changes in the dopaminergic system, which is reflected in altered behavioral response to a dopamine agonist.

Determination of alentamol hydrobromide, a novel antipsychotic agent, in human blood plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and solid-phase extraction

Alentamol hydrobromide, (+)-2-(dipropylamino)-2,3-dihydro-1H-phenalen-5-ol monohydrobromide, is a selective dopamine agonist currently being investigated for the treatment of schizophrenia. This paper describes a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic-based method for the quantification of alentamol in blood plasma and urine. The method utilizes solid-phase extraction with carboxylic acid-derivatized silica columns. A limit of quantitation of 0.1 ng/ml in plasma was achieved by virtue of selective extraction and fluorescence detection. Example chromatograms of plasma and urine specimens from clinical trials demonstrate the utility of the method.