The hypotensive effect of BMY 7378 is antagonized by a silent 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist: comparison with 8-hydroxy-dipropylamino tetralin

WAY 405, a new silent 5-HT1A receptor antagonist with low affinity for vascular alpha1-adrenoceptors

1 The effect of WAY 405 ((R)-N-(2-methyl-(4-indolyl-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexane carboxamide), a putative 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, on cardiovascular function was studied. 2 In anaesthetized rats, the i.v. injection of WAY 405 did not significantly modify basal heart rate nor blood pressure at doses of 1, 3, 10 and 30 microg kg(-1); while the antagonist dose dependently antagonized the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist, 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin)-induced hypotension and bradycardia. 3 WAY 405 antagonized noradrenaline-induced contraction in isolated arteries, with pK(B) values of 6.6+/-0.1, 6.5+/-0.1 and 6.5+/-0.1, for rat tail artery (alpha(1A)-adrenoceptors), rabbit aorta (alpha(1B)-adrenoceptors), and rat aorta (alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors) respectively. 4 The results show that in the control of blood pressure the new compound, WAY 405, behaves as a silent 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist in the anaesthetized rat, also having low affinity for vascular alpha(1)-adrenoceptors.

The hypotensive effect of BMY 7378 involves central 5-HT1A receptor stimulation in the adult but not in the young rat

BACKGROUND

Stimulation of central 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT(1A)) receptors produces hypotension and bradycardia. We describe BMY 7378 (8-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-8-azaspiro[4.5]decane-7,9 dione) effects in cardiovascular function and [(3)H] 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propyl-amino) tetralin) binding sites in rat brain of different ages.

METHODS

BMY 7378 was administered to anesthetized male Wistar rats (1, 3 and 6 months old) and blood pressure and heart rate were continuously recorded. Saturation of [(3)H] 8-OH-DPAT binding to 5-HT(1A) sites in brain membranes was determined.

RESULTS

Basal diastolic blood pressure increased with age, 85 +/- 2, 106 +/- 3, and 113 +/- 2 mmHg for 1-, 3- and 6-month-old rats, respectively (p <0.05 among groups). BMY 7378 induced significant dose- and age-dependent hypotension. The selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, WAY 100635 (N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide), antagonized BMY 7378 effects in 6 month-old but not in younger rats. [(3)H] 8-OH-DPAT binding sites decreased in hippocampi and brainstem with maturation.

CONCLUSIONS

Data suggest that BMY 7378 is a hypotensive agent in the rat, but that its actions are mediated, in part, by central 5-HT(1A) receptor stimulation in the adult and by a nonserotonergic mechanism in the young rat.

Evidence that NAN-190-induced hypotension involves vascular alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonism in the rat

The effect of NAN-190 (1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[4-(2-phthalimido]-butyl] piperazine), described as a mixed 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist/antagonist, on cardiovascular function was studied. The i.v. injection of NAN-190 (1-300 micro/kg) dose-dependently decreased blood pressure (p<0.001), while heart rate was not significantly modified compared to saline-treated, anaesthetized adult rats. WAY 100635 (N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl] ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide), a highly selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, increased NAN-190-induced hypotension (p<0.05). In the pithed rat NAN-190 displaced the phenylephrine dose-pressor response curve to the right; ED(50) values were: approximately 14, 20, 40 and 270 microg/kg for saline and NAN-190 (1, 10 and 100 microg/kg, respectively); similar ED(50) values were obtained with prazosin ( approximately 20, 69 and 358 microg/kg for 1, 10 and 100 microg/kg of prazosin, respectively). NAN-190 shifted to the right the concentration-response curves to phenylephrine in rat tail artery (alpha(1A)-adrenoceptors), in rabbit aorta (alpha(1B)-adrenoceptors) and in rat aorta (alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors), with pA(2) values of 9.47, 9.02 and 9.99; while Schild slopes were -0.78, -1.13 and -0.90, respectively (not significantly different from unity). The results show that NAN-190 induced hypotension in the anaesthetized, adult rat and suggest that this effect could be explained by antagonism of vascular alpha(1)-adrenoceptors.

Role of the alpha1D-adrenergic receptor in the development of salt-induced hypertension

In an attempt to elucidate whether there is a specific alpha1-adrenergic receptor (alpha1-AR) subtype involved in the genesis or maintenance of hypertension, the alpha1D-AR subtype was evaluated in a model of salt-induced hypertension. The alpha1D-AR-deficient (alpha1D-/-) and control (alpha1D+/+) mice (n=8 to 14 in each group) were submitted to subtotal nephrectomy and given 1% saline as drinking water for 35 days. Blood pressure (BP) was monitored by tail-cuff readings and confirmed at the end point by direct intraarterial BP recording. The alpha1D-/- mice had a significantly (P=0.0004) attenuated increase in BP response in this protocol (baseline 94.6+/-2.8 versus end point 107.4+/-4.5 mm Hg) compared with that of their wild-type counterparts (alpha1D+/+), from a baseline 97.4+/-2.9 to an end point 139.4+/-4.5 mm Hg. Seven of 15 alpha1D+/+ mice died with edema, probably owing to renal failure, whereas 14 of 15 alpha1D-/- mice were maintained for 35 days. Body weight, renal remnant weight, and residual renal function were similar in the 2 groups, whereas the values of plasma catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) were higher in alpha1D+/+ than in the alpha1D-/- mice. These data suggest that alpha1D-AR plays an important role in developing a high BP in response to dietary salt-loading, and that agents having selective alpha1D-AR antagonism could have significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of hypertension.

Evidence that the hypotensive effect of WAY 100635, a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, is related to vascular alpha 1-adrenoceptor blockade in the adult rat

1. The effect of WAY100635 (N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide trihydrochloride), a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, on cardiovascular function was studied. 2. The i.v. injection of WAY100635 dose-dependently decreased blood pressure in anaesthetized rats; while in pithed rats WAY100635 (1 mg kg(-1)) displaced the phenylephrine pressor effect. 3. WAY100635 antagonized phenylephrine-induced contraction in rabbit and rat aorta (pA2 of 6.88 and 7.93 and Schild slopes of -0.83 and -1.21, respectively); while in rat caudal artery pK(B) was 7.45 and the Schild slope of -0.56, suggesting a complex interaction in this vessel. 4. The results show that WAY100635 induced hypotension in the anaesthetized rat and suggest that this effect could be partially explained by antagonism of vascular alpha1-adrenoceptors.