Novel sterically hindered cannabinoid CB1 receptor ligands

In the present study, 11 novel N-(3,3-diphenyl)propyl-2,2-diphenylacetamide derivatives (4a-d and 9a-g) and six triphenylacetamides (10a-c and 11a-c) were synthesized and tested as ligands of cannabinoid CB(1) and CB(2) receptors. All compounds exhibited affinity for CB(1) and CB(2) receptors. Four compounds (4b, 9a, 9b, and 11a) showed selectivity for CB(1) versus CB(2) receptors, although only the N-(3,3-diphenyl)propyl-2,2-diphenylacetamide (4b) can be considered a potent CB(1) ligand (K(i)=58 nM). It was 140-fold selective over CB(2) receptors (K(i)=7800 nM) and behaved as an inverse agonist by stimulating forskolin-induced cAMP formation in mouse N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells. This compound is the first of a novel class of tetraphenyl CB(1) ligands that, in view of its easy synthesis and high affinity for CB(1) receptors and despite its sterical hindrance, will be useful for the design of new blockers of this therapeutically exploitable receptor type.     

A novel spirocyclic tropanyl-Δ2-isoxazoline derivative enhances citalopram and paroxetine binding to serotonin transporters as well as serotonin uptake

A group of spirocyclic tropanyl-Δ²-isoxazolines was synthesized exploiting the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to olefins. Their interaction with the dopamine and serotonin transporters (DAT and SERT, respectively) was evaluated through binding experiments. The majority of the compounds had no inhibitory effects (IC₅₀ >> 10 μM), while some had an IC₅₀ value in the range 5–10 μM (8a–c, 10b and 11c on DAT, 12b on SERT). Unexpectedly, one of the tertiary amines under investigation, that is 3′-methoxy-8-methyl-spiro{8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-3,5′(4′H)-isoxazole 7a, was able to enhance at a concentration of 10 μM both [³H]citalopram and [³H]paroxetine binding to SERT in rat brain homogenate (up to 25%, due to an increase of B_max) and [³H]serotonin uptake (up to 30%) in cortical synaptosomes. This peculiar pharmacological profile of 7a suggests it binds to an allosteric site on SERT, and positions derivative 7a as a very useful tool to investigate SERT machinery.     

Acute Stress Increases Depolarization-Evoked Glutamate Release in the Rat Prefrontal/Frontal Cortex: The Dampening Action of Antidepressants

Background

Behavioral stress is recognized as a main risk factor for neuropsychiatric diseases. Converging evidence suggested that acute stress is associated with increase of excitatory transmission in certain forebrain areas. Aim of this work was to investigate the mechanism whereby acute stress increases glutamate release, and if therapeutic drugs prevent the effect of stress on glutamate release.

Methodology/Findings

Rats were chronically treated with vehicle or drugs employed for therapy of mood/anxiety disorders (fluoxetine, desipramine, venlafaxine, agomelatine) and then subjected to unpredictable footshock stress. Acute stress induced marked increase in depolarization-evoked release of glutamate from synaptosomes of prefrontal/frontal cortex in superfusion, and the chronic drug treatments prevented the increase of glutamate release. Stress induced rapid increase in the circulating levels of corticosterone in all rats (both vehicle- and drug-treated), and glutamate release increase was blocked by previous administration of selective antagonist of glucocorticoid receptor (RU 486). On the molecular level, stress induced accumulation of presynaptic SNARE complexes in synaptic membranes (both in vehicle- and drug-treated rats). Patch-clamp recordings of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex revealed that stress increased glutamatergic transmission through both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms, and that antidepressants may normalize it by reducing release probability.

Conclusions/Significance

Acute footshock stress up-regulated depolarization-evoked release of glutamate from synaptosomes of prefrontal/frontal cortex. Stress-induced increase of glutamate release was dependent on stimulation of glucocorticoid receptor by corticosterone. Because all drugs employed did not block either elevation of corticosterone or accumulation of SNARE complexes, the dampening action of the drugs on glutamate release must be downstream of these processes. This novel effect of antidepressants on the response to stress, shown here for the first time, could be related to the therapeutic action of these drugs.     

Downregulation of nitric oxide formation by cytosolic phospholipase A2-released arachidonic acid

Exposure of PC12 cells to A23187 or thapsigargin caused a concentration-dependent release of arachidonic acid (AA) mediated by cytosolic phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Under the same conditions, however, analysis of nitric oxide (NO) formation revealed that activation of NO synthase (NOS) is best described by a bell-shaped curve. Reduced detection of NO observed at increasing A23187 or thapsigargin concentrations was not due to formation of peroxynitrite or to activation of NO-consuming processes, but rather to AA-dependent inhibition of NOS activity. Furthermore, NO formation observed under optimal conditions for NOS activity was suppressed by AA as well as by the PLA2 activator melittin. Finally, the effects of AA were not the consequence of direct enzyme inhibition, because this lipid messenger failed to inhibit formation of NO by purified neuronal NOS, but were mediated by an AA-dependent signaling and not by downstream products of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. In conclusion, the present study underscores a novel mechanism whereby endogenous, or exogenous, AA promotes inhibition of NOS activity. Because AA is generated in response to various agonists acting on membrane receptors and extensively released in inflammatory conditions, these findings have important physiopathological implications.     

Homologues and isomers of noladin ether,a putative novel endocannabinoid: interaction with rat cannabinoid CB(1) receptors

Two regioisomers and 13 analogues of the putative endocannabinoid noladin ether (2-arachidonyl glyceryl ether, 2-AGE, 1) were synthesized and tested for their interaction with CB(1) receptors in rat brain membranes. The results showed that a C-20 tetra-unsaturated moiety is necessary for high affinity, and that a series of alkyl glyceryl ethers of potential occurrence in brain tissues have less affinity than 2-AGE for CB(1) receptors.     

Orientation at night: an innate moon compass in sandhoppers (Amphipoda: Talitridae)

The supralittoral amphipod Talitrus saltator is well known for its capacity for astronomical orientation using the sun and moon as compasses. It has also been demonstrated that the sun compass is innate in this species. In our experiments, we released inexpert (naive) young born in the laboratory into a confined environment under the full moon and in the absence of the horizontal component of the magnetic field. They were allowed to see the natural sky and the moon only at the moment of release. The young individuals were obtained in the laboratory by crossing adult individuals from the same and different populations of sandhoppers. The young from intrapopulation crosses were well oriented towards the directions corresponding to those of their parents, whereas the young from interpopulation crosses were oriented in an intermediate direction. Therefore, our experiments demonstrate in the sandhopper T. saltator that sea-land moon orientation relies on an innate chronometrically compensated mechanism.     

The proton pump of the mitochondrial bc1 complex

The molecular mechanism of the proton pump activity by the respiratory chain bc1 complex is still unknown. This group has proposed since long time that protonation/deprotonation events in the apoproteins of the complex are cooperatively linked to the oxido-reduction reactions at the quinone catalytic centre. Protolytic residues in the apoproteins can thus provide proton transfer pathways between the bulk aqueons phases and the redox centre. A series of experiments has been carried out aimed at demonstrating a role of particular complex subunits in the pump process. In this paper recent results are reviewed which have evidenced a definite role of polypeptide carboxyl residues in the proton pump mechanism. In particular, experiments carried out with both the bovine and P. denitrificans purified enzymes have indicated a specific involvement of aspartic residue(s) in the Rieske Fe/S protein in the proton pump function.     

Improved Human Sperm Recovery Using Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Supplementation in Semen Cryopreservation Procedure

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of ROS scavenger supplementation in human semen samples undergoing cryopreservation procedures.After screening out andrological pathologies, we selected 25 male partners of infertile couples with the following semen profile: volume >/= 2.0 ml, normal viscosity, sperm count >/=20 x 10(6)/ml, straight progressive motility (classes 1 and 2) >/= 40% (Mazzilli, Rossi, Delfino and Nofroni (1999) Andrologia 31: 187-194), atypical forms 相似文献