Studies on uricosuric diuretics. I. 6,7-Dichloro-5-sulfamoyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxylic acids

Enantiomer-enantiomer interaction of a uricosuric antihypertensive diuretic (DBCA) in renal tubular secretion and stereoselective inhibition by probenecid in the cynomolgus monkey

1. Enantiomer-enantiomer interaction of 5-dimethylsulphamoyl-6,7-dichloro-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-carboxyl ic acid (DBCA), a uricosuric, diuretic and antihypertensive agent, was studied from the pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers following intravenous injection of individual enantiomers and racemate into male cynomolgus monkeys. Also studied was the involvement of the anion transport system in the renal excretion of DBCA by comparison of the pharmacokinetics in probenecid-treated and non-treated animals. 2. Separate administration of individual enantiomers showed higher plasma concentrations of (S)(-)-DBCA than those of the antipode, at an early period after dosing. Both enantiomers disappeared rapidly from plasma with an elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) of 0.35-0.38 h. Unbound fractions were 18.9% for the (R)(+)-enantiomer and 10.2% for the (S)(-)-enantiomer. The major portion of both enantiomers was excreted by 6 h after dosing and 77-78% of the dose was recovered within 48 h, principally as the unchanged drug. Tubular secretion contributed significantly to the renal excretion of DBCA, because tubular secretion clearance values of unbound drug (CLrf,s) were 14- to 29-fold greater than creatinine clearance. 3. The presence of the antipode decreased the tubular secretion clearance (CLrf,s) value of unbound (S)(-)-enantiomer by 30%, and tended to decrease that for the unbound (R)(+)-enantiomer, although not significantly. This indicates the occurrence of enantiomer-enantiomer interaction in the process of renal tubular secretion, and the inhibition of (S)(-)-DBCA renal excretion in the presence of the antipode. 4. Probenecid treatment significantly decreased the CLrf,s of both enantiomers, and the extent of inhibition for the (S)(-)-enantiomer (53%) was significantly higher than that for the antipode (14%). These results show that renal tubular secretion of DBCA involves an anion transport system which prefers the (S)(-)-enantiomer, and that probenecid can preferentially inhibit (S)(-)-enantiomer secretion.

Stereoselective conjugation of a uricosuric diuretic with glutathione by glutathione transferase 3-3

1. The activity of glutathione (GSH) transferases in rat liver cytosol was inhibited by the (-) enantiomer of a uricosuric diuretic (6,7-dichloro-5[N,N-dimethylsulphamoyl]-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-ca rboxylic acid, DBCA) in a concentration-dependent manner. Although the DBCA (+) enantiomer inhibited the activity of liver cytosol GSH transferases, it was less effective. 2. Among four purified GSH transferase isozymes obtained from rat liver cytosol, isozyme 3-3 showed stereoselective interactions with the enantiomers of DBCA. This isozyme most actively and preferentially catalysed the transfer of GSH to DBCA (-) enantiomer.

Chemical structure and toxicity of diuretics in isolated hepatocytes

The effects of several diuretics, including tienilic acid and indacrinone, on isolated rat heaptocytes were examined. Addition of tienilic acid and indacrinone at 1 mM to a suspension of freshly isolated cells caused dose-dependent loss of cell viability as judged by the LDH-latency test. Survey of 19 structurally related compounds revealed that the extent of cell injury and chemical structure were correlated, and an intense adverse effect was attributed to the 2-thienylcarbonyl moiety. Several other factors influencing cell viability are also disclosed. Further study revealed that tienilic acid and indacrinone were toxic to the primary culture of hepatocytes at a lower dose than that a freshly isolated hepatocytes. Thus, an isolated hepatocyte system can be used to select compounds displaying low hepatotoxicity, as for example is needed when screening diuretics.

Stereoselective glutathione conjugation of a uricosuric diuretic

A reduction of cellular glutathione (GSH) content was observed when isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated with a stereoisomer of a uricosuric diuretic (S-8666) at a high concentration. Subsequent studies have revealed it was due to conjugation of GSH and S-8666 (-)-enantiomer in the liver cytosol. The (+)-enantiomer strongly inhibited the conjugation reaction, therefore, GSH depletion did not take place when a racemic form of S-8666 was incubated with the liver cells. A possible chemical structure of the GSH-conjugate is tentatively proposed.