A gas chromatographic procedure for separation and quantitation of the enantiomers of the antidepressant tranylcypromine

Tranylcypromine in mind (Part I): Review of pharmacology

It has been over 50 years since a review has focused exclusively on the monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor tranylcypromine (TCP). A new review has therefore been conducted for TCP in two parts which are written to be read preferably in close conjunction: Part I - pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, toxicology; and Part II - clinical studies with meta-analysis of controlled studies in depression, practice of TCP treatment, place in therapy. Pharmacological data of this review part I characterize TCP as an irreversible and nonselective MAO-A/B inhibitor at low therapeutic doses of 20mg/day with supplementary norepinephrine reuptake inhibition at higher doses of 40-60mg/day. Serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and trace amines, such as the "endogenous amphetamine" phenylethylamine, are increased in brain, which leads to changes in neuroplasticity by e.g. increased neurotrophic growth factors and translates to reduced stress-induced hypersecretion of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and positive testing in animal studies of depression. TCP has a pharmacokinetic half-life (t_1/2) of only 2h which is considerably lower than for most other antidepressant drugs. However, a very long pharmacodynamic half-life of about one week is found because of the irreversible MAO inhibition. New studies show that, except for cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2A6, no other drug metabolizing CYP-enzymes are inhibited by TCP at therapeutic doses which defines a low potential of pharmacokinetic interactions in the direction from TCP to other drugs. Insufficient information is available, however, for plasma concentrations of TCP influenced by comedication. More quantitative data are also needed for TCP metabolites such as p-hydroxytranylcypromine and N-acetyltranylcypromine. Pharmacodynamic drug interactions comprise for instance severe serotonin toxicity (SST) with serotonergic drugs and hypertensive crisis with indirect sympathomimetics. Because of the risk of severe food interaction, TCP treatment remains beset with the need for a mandatory tyramine-restricted diet. Toxicity in overdose is similar to amitriptyline and imipramine according to the distance of therapeutic to toxic doses. In conclusion, TCP is characterized by an exceptional pharmacology which is different to most other antidepressant drugs, and a more special evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety may therefore be needed.

The monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor tranylcypromine enhances nicotine self-administration in rats through a mechanism independent of MAO inhibition

Our current study aims to evaluate the mechanisms of tranylcypromine (TCP)-mediated enhancement of nicotine self-administration. We replicated our previous findings which demonstrate that 1 h pretreatment with TCP (3 mg/kg, i.p.) enhances nicotine self-administration (7.5 μg/kg/inj, i.v.) when compared with vehicle-treated rodents. We tested whether TCP-mediated enhancement of nicotine self-administration was due to MAO inhibition or off-target effects by (i) extending the TCP pretreatment time from 1 to 20 h, and (ii) evaluating the role of the individual TCP stereoisomers in nicotine self-administration studies. While 20 h and (-)TCP pretreatment induced significant inhibition of MAO (60-90%), animals found nicotine only weakly reinforcing. Furthermore, while both (+) and (±)TCP treatment induced nearly 100% MAO inhibition, (+)TCP pretreated animals took longer to acquire nicotine self-administration compared to (±)TCP pretreated animals. Stable nicotine self-administration in (+)TCP pretreated animals was influenced by nicotinic receptor activation but not nicotine-paired cues. The opposite was found in (±)TCP pretreated animals. Treatment with (-) or (±)TCP increased dopamine and serotonin overflow, while the (+) and (±)TCP treatment enhanced monoamine overflow subsequent to nicotine. Together, our data suggests TCP enhancement of nicotine self-administration are mediated through mechanisms independent of MAO inhibition, including nicotine-paired cues and monoamine uptake inhibition.

Metabolism of some "second"- and "fourth"-generation antidepressants: iprindole, viloxazine, bupropion, mianserin, maprotiline, trazodone, nefazodone, and venlafaxine

1. This review summarizes the major known aspects of the metabolism of second-generation (iprindole, viloxazine, bupropion, mianserin, maprotiline, and trazodone) and fourth-generation (nefazodone and venlafaxine) antidepressants. 2. Discussions about specific enzymes involved and about possible pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions, particularly as they relate to cytochrome P450 enzymes, are provided.

Enantioselective gas chromatographic assay of 2-alkylamines using N-(trifluoroacetyl)prolyl derivatives and a chiral capillary column

The chromatographic properties of (R)-(+)-N-(trifluoroacetyl)prolyl and (S)-(-)-N-(trifluoroacetyl)prolyl derivatives on a chiral gas chromatography capillary column were assessed for the measurement of enantiomeric purities of 2-butylamine, 2-pentylamine, 2-hexylamine, 2-heptylamine and 2-octylamine and their N-methyl analogues, which are used as precursors in the synthesis of some selective, specific, irreversible monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors. Using a Chirasil-Val column it was possible to separate all four diastereomers of the primary amines, and three of the four isomers of the secondary amines. Quantitation of the enantiomers is facilitated even with enantiomerically impure reagent when compared to the use of an achiral phase.

Rapid and sensitive procedure for the separation and quantitation of D- and L-serine in rat brain using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A very simple and rapid GC-MS procedure for the separation and quantitation of D- and L-serine has been developed utilizing a conventional bonded-phase capillary column. The procedure involves initial esterification with isobutanol followed by acylation with the chiral derivatizing reagent S-(-)-N-(heptafluorobutyryl)prolyl chloride (HPC). This procedure requires neither extraction nor clean-up steps and is sensitive to 50 pg on-column. Total time of the procedure is under 3 h and derivatives are stable at room temperature for at least 5 days, making this procedure ideal for automated injections. A simple, one-day synthesis of HPC is described which yields > 99.9% optical purity.