Tropane-2 Beta-carboxylic Acid Research Articles

Running wheel exercise enhances recovery from nigrostriatal dopamine injury without inducing neuroprotection

Forced use of the forelimb contralateral to a unilateral injection of the dopaminergic neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine can promote recovery of motor function in that limb and can significantly decrease damage to dopamine terminals. The present study was conducted to determine (1) whether a form of voluntary exercise, wheel running, would improve motor performance in rats with such lesions, and (2) whether any beneficial effects of wheel running are attributable to ameliorating the dopaminergic damage. In experiment 1, rats were allowed to run in exercise wheels or kept in home cages for 2 1/2 weeks, then given stereotaxic infusions of 6-hydroxydopamine into the left striatum. The rats were replaced into their original environments (wheels or home cages) for four additional weeks, and asymmetries in forelimb use were quantified at 3, 10, 17, and 24 days postoperatively. After killing, dopaminergic damage was assessed by both quantifying 3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester ([ 125I]RTI-55) binding to striatal dopamine transporters and counting tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells in the substantia nigra. Exercised 6-hydroxydopamine-infused rats showed improved motor outcomes relative to sedentary lesioned controls, effects that were most apparent at postoperative days 17 and 24. Despite this behavioral improvement, 6-hydroxydopamine-induced loss of striatal dopamine transporters and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive nigral cells in exercised and sedentary groups did not differ. Since prior studies suggested that forced limb use improves motor performance by sparing nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons from 6-hydroxydopamine damage, experiment 2 used a combined regimen of forced plus voluntary wheel running. Again, we found that the motor performance of exercised rats improved more rapidly than that of sedentary controls, but that there were no differences between these groups in the damage produced by 6-hydroxydopamine. It appears that voluntary exercise can facilitate recovery from partial nigrostriatal injury, but it does so without evident sparing of dopamine nerve terminals.

RTI-113 administration reduces cocaine self-administration at high occupancy of dopamine transporter.

RTI-113 [3beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropan-2beta carboxylic acid phenyl ester hydrochloride], one of many phenyltropanes potent at and selective for DAT, inhibited self-administration of cocaine in rat at doses that did not alter responding maintained by food. The doses that inhibited cocaine intake produced significant levels of occupancy of DAT.

Altered brain serotonin homeostasis and locomotor insensitivity to 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("Ecstasy") in serotonin transporter-deficient mice.

The sodium-dependent, high affinity serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] transporter (5-HTT) provides the primary mechanism for inactivation of 5-HT after its release into the synaptic cleft. To further evaluate the function of the 5-HTT, the murine gene was disrupted by homologous recombination. Despite evidence that excess extracellular 5-HT during embryonic development, including that produced by drugs that inhibit the 5-HTT, may lead to severe craniofacial and cardiac malformations, no obvious developmental phenotype was observed in the 5-HTT-/- mice. High affinity [3H]5-HT uptake was completely absent in 5-HTT-/- mice, confirming a physiologically effective knockout of the 5-HTT gene. 5-HTT binding sites labeled with [125I] 3 beta-(4'-iodophenyl)tropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester were reduced in a gene dose-dependent manner, with no demonstrable binding in 5-HTT-/- mutants. In adult 5-HTT-/- mice, marked reductions (60-80%) in 5-HT concentrations were measured in several brain regions. While (+)-amphetamine-induced hyperactivity did not differ across genotypes, the locomotor enhancing effects of (+)-3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a substituted amphetamine that releases 5-HT via a transporter-dependent mechanism, was completely absent in 5-HTT-/- mutants. Together, these data suggest that the presence of a functional 5-HTT is essential for brain 5-HT homeostasis and for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced hyperactivity.

Synthesis and transporter binding properties of 3 beta-(4'-alkyl-, 4'-alkenyl-, and 4'-alkynylphenyl)nortropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters: serotonin transporter selective analogs.

New methods for the synthesis of 3 beta-(4'-alkyl-, 4'-alkenyl-, and 4'-alkynylphenyl)nortropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters 2-4, respectively, were developed. These methods involved coupling of the appropriate organometallic reagents to 3 beta-(4'-iodophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (6a, RTI-55) or to an N-protected derivative of 6a followed by N-demethylation or removal of the protecting group. Some analogs were prepared by catalytic reduction of the alkene and alkene analogs 3 and 4 or by isomerization of the alkenes 3. The analogs 2-4 were evaluated for inhibition of radioligand binding to the serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) transporters. 3 beta-(4'-Isopropenyl- and 4'-cis-propenylphenyl)nortropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters (3b,d), which possessed IC50 values of 0.6 and 1.15 nM, respectively, were the most potent analogs at the 5-HT transporter, and with NE/5-HT IC50 ratios of 240 and 128 nM, respectively, they were selective for the 5-HT relative to the NE transporter. Since interaction with the serotonin transporter may modulate the pharmacological effects resulting from binding to the dopamine transporter, 3 beta-(4'-isopropenylphenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (11b) which has good affinity for both the 5-HT and DA transporters but low affinity at the NE transporter may be useful for studying this interaction.

3 alpha-(4'-substituted phenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters: novel ligands with high affinity and selectivity at the dopamine transporter.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVLetterNEXT3α-(4‘-Substituted phenyl)tropane- 2β-carboxylic Acid Methyl Esters: Novel Ligands with High Affinity and Selectivity at the Dopamine TransporterChristopher R. Holmquist, Kathryn I. Keverline-Frantz, Philip Abraham, John W. Boja, Michael J. Kuhar, and F. Ivy CarrollView Author Information Chemistry and Life Sciences, Research Triangle Institute, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, and National Institute on Drug Abuse, Addiction Research Center, P.O. Box 5180, Baltimore, Maryland 21224 Cite this: J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 21, 4139–4141Publication Date (Web):October 11, 1996Publication History Received16 July 1996Published online11 October 1996Published inissue 1 January 1996https://doi.org/10.1021/jm960515uCopyright © 1996 American Chemical SocietyRIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views211Altmetric-Citations31LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit Read OnlinePDF (131 KB) Get e-AlertsSupporting Info (1)»Supporting Information Supporting Information SUBJECTS:Alkyls,Amines,Conformation,Molecular structure,Organic compounds Get e-Alerts

Mapping dopamine transporters in the human brain with novel selective cocaine analog [125I]RTI-121.

The novel cocaine analog RTI-121 [3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid isopropyl ester] was evaluated as a probe for the in vitro labeling and localization of the dopamine transporter in the human brain. Saturation binding experiments conducted in sucrose-phosphate buffer (10 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.4, 0.32 M sucrose) revealed high- and low-affinity binding components with affinity values (KD) of 0.25 +/- 0.04 and 4.9 +/- 1.6 nM (mean +/- SE) and densities (Bmax) of 56.8 +/- 13.8 and 147.7 +/- 23.4 pmol/g tissue, respectively. In contrast, when saturation binding experiments were performed in phosphate-buffered saline (10 mM Na2HPO4, 1.8 mM KH2PO4, 136 mM NaCl, 2.8 mM KCl, 10 mM NaI, pH 7.4), a 9-fold decrease in the density of the low-affinity component was noted, suggesting that the low-affinity RTI-121 binding site is associated with the region of the transporter involved in the ionic dependence of substrate recognition and/or uptake. The rank order of potency for inhibition of [125I]RTI-121 binding to human caudate membranes demonstrates that the radioligand selectively labels the dopamine transporter (GBR 12909 > RTI-121 > mazindol > nomifensine > (-) cocaine > desipramine > citalopram). Autoradiographic mapping of [125I]RTI-121 revealed very high densities of cocaine recognition sites over areas known to be rich in dopaminergic innervation, including the caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens. Moderate densities were also observed over the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area. Low-to-background labeling of [125]RTI-121 was seen throughout the cerebral cortex, amygdaloid nuclei, globus pallidus, and thalamus. In comparison with the autoradiographic distribution of the cocaine analogs [3H]WIN 35,428 (or CFT) and [125I]RTI-55 (or beta-CIT), the labeling pattern for [125I]RTI-121 was more restricted. These studies demonstrate that [125I]RTI-121 labels dopamine-rich brain regions with greater selectivity than other currently available cocaine analogs, which makes it a potentially superior imaging probe for mapping the dopamine transporter in the human brain.

Long‐lasting inhibition of in vivo cocaine binding to dopamine transporters by 3β‐(4‐Iodophenyl)Tropane‐2‐Carboxylic acid Methyl Ester: RTI‐55 or βCIT

Cocaine analogs such as 3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (RTI-55 or beta CIT) with a higher affinity for the dopamine transporter (DAT) may be potentially useful in interfering with cocaine's actions in brain. This study evaluates the time course of the effects of RTI-55 on cocaine binding in baboon brain using PET and [11C]cocaine. [11C]Cocaine binding was measured prior to, and 90 minutes, 24 hours, 4-5 days and 11-13 days after RTI-55 (0.3 mg/kg i.v.). Parallel studies with [3H]cocaine and RTI-55 (0.5 mg/kg i.v. or 2 mg/kg i.p.) were performed in the mouse. RTI-55 significantly inhibited [11C]cocaine binding at 90 minutes and 24 hours after administration. The half-life for the clearance of RTI-55 from the DAT was estimated to be 2 to 3 days in the baboon brain. In the mouse brain, RTI-55 significantly inhibited [3H]cocaine binding at 60 and 180 minutes after administration and recovery was observed at 12 hours. These results document long-lasting inhibition of cocaine binding by RTI-55 and corroborate that binding kinetics of RTI-55 in striatum observed in imaging studies with [123I]RTI-55 represents binding to DATs.

Cocaine and 3 beta-(4'-substituted phenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid ester and amide analogues. New high-affinity and selective compounds for the dopamine transporter.

Several 2 beta-carboxylic acid ester and amide analogues of cocaine and of 3 beta-(4'-substituted phenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid were prepared. The binding affinities of these compounds, and of some previously prepared analogues, at the dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) transporters were determined. The phenyl esters of 3 beta-(4'-methylphenyl)- and 3 beta-(4'-chlorophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid are highly potent and highly selective for the DA transporter. The isopropyl esters of 3 beta-(4'-chlorophenyl)- and 3 beta-(4'-iodophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid also possess high DA affinity and show significant DA transporter selectivity. Similarly, the phenyl and isopropyl ester analogues of cocaine are much more selective for the DA transporter than cocaine. Tertiary amide analogues of cocaine and of 3 beta-(4'-substituted phenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acids are more potent inhibitors of radioligand binding at the DA transporter than the primary and secondary amide analogues. In particular, 3 beta-(4'-chlorophenyl)tropane-2 beta-N-morpholinocarboxamide as well as the 3 beta-(4'-chlorophenyl)- and 3 beta-(4'-iodophenyl)tropane-2 beta-N- pyrrolidinocarboxamides possess high affinity and selectivity for the DA transporter. The N,N-dimethylamide cocaine analogue is the most selective cocaine amide derivative for the DA transporter. High correlation between the inhibition of radioligand binding and inhibition of uptake at the DA, NE, and 5-HT transporter was found for a selected group of analogues. Within this group, one compound, the isopropyl ester of 3 beta-(4'-iodophenyl)-tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid, was found to be more potent in the inhibition of radioligand binding than in the inhibition of DA uptake. Taken together with its high potency and selectivity at the DA transporter, this suggests that this compound may be a lead in the development of a cocaine antagonist.

Synthesis, ligand binding, and QSAR (CoMFA and classical) study of 3 beta-(3'-substituted phenyl)-, 3 beta-(4'-substituted phenyl)-, and 3 beta-(3',4'-disubstituted phenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters.

Several new 3 beta-(4'-substituted phenyl)-, 3-beta-(3'-substituted phenyl)-, and 3 beta-(3',4'-disubstituted phenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters were prepared and assayed for inhibition of [3H]WIN 35,428 binding to the dopamine transporter. The 3 beta-(3',4'-dichloro) and 3 beta-(4'-chloro-3'-methyl) analogues (2w and 2y; RTI-111 and RTI-112, respectively) with IC50 values of 0.79 and 0.81 nM showed the highest affinity. The contributions of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models derived from the classical and comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) approaches to rational drug design were examined. CoMFA models were derived using steric and electrostatic potentials with SYBYL default values while the classical models were derived from pi and MR parameters. Using a 12-compound training set, both models were used for predicting the binding affinity of compounds both inside and outside the training set. The CoMFA study provided new insight into the steric and electrostatic factors influencing binding to the DA transporter and provided additional support for our original finding that CoMFA is useful in predicting and designing new compounds for study. The classical QSAR models, which were easier to obtain, suggest that the distribution property (pi) of the compounds is an important factor. Overall, the SAR, CoMFA, and conventional QSAR studies elaborated some features of the cocaine binding site pharmacophore and provided useful predictive information.

Substituted 3-phenyltropane analogs of cocaine: synthesis, inhibition of binding at cocaine recognition sites, and positron emission tomography imaging.

It is now accepted that (-)-cocaine binds to specific recognition sites associated with monoamine transporters in the mammalian brain. In this study, several analogs of 3 beta-phenyltropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester were prepared and their potency for inhibiting the binding of [3H]-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester to primate caudate-putamen was evaluated. The synthesis and binding affinity of 3 beta-(3,4- dichlorophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester, one of the most potent cocaine congeners yet reported, is presented. The feasibility of synthesizing high-affinity ligands for cocaine recognition sites and their suitability as PET imaging ligands for cocaine receptors in vivo is demonstrated.

Selective dopamine transporter inhibition by cocaine analogs

Several isopropyl and phenyl esters of 3 beta-(4-substituted phenyl) tropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid analogs of cocaine are relatively more potent and selective than cocaine and some other compounds in inhibiting dopamine uptake. These analogs can be used as binding ligands and as tools for elucidating the mechanisms of action of cocaine.

High-affinity binding of [125I]RTI-55 to dopamine and serotonin transporters in rat brain.

RTI-55 (3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester), one of the most potent inhibitors of dopamine uptake reported to date, was radioiodinated and tested as a probe for the cocaine receptor in Sprague-Dawley rat brain. Saturation and kinetic studies in the striatum revealed that [125I]RTI-55 bound to both a high- and low-affinity site. The Kd for the high-affinity site was 0.2 nM, while the Kd for the low-affinity site was 5.8 nM. The corresponding number of binding sites in the striatum was 37 and 415 pmol/g protein. The pharmacological profile of specific [125I]RTI-55 binding in the striatum was consistent with that of the dopamine transporter. Additionally, [125I]RTI-55 was found to bind with high affinity to the cerebral cortex. Scatchard analysis revealed a single high-affinity component of 0.2 nM with a density of 2.5 pmol/g protein. The pharmacological profile demonstrated by [125I]RTI-55 in the cerebral cortex matched that of the serotonin transporter. Autoradiographic analysis of sagittal brain sections with [125I]RTI-55 binding was consistent with these findings. Specific binding of [125I]RTI-55 was blocked by dopamine uptake inhibitors in areas rich in dopaminergic nerve terminals. Conversely, serotonin uptake inhibitors blocked the binding of [125I]RTI-55 in brain areas rich in serotonergic neurons. These results demonstrate that [125I]RTI-55 may be a very useful ligand for the dopamine and serotonin transporters.

Probes for the cocaine receptor. Potentially irreversible ligands for the dopamine transporter.

Several potentially irreversible ligands (i.e., wash-resistant binding inhibitors) for the cocaine receptor site on the dopamine transporter, derived from (-)-cocaine or 3 beta-phenyltropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (WIN 35,065-2), were prepared and shown to produce wash-resistant inhibition of [3H]-3 beta-(p-fluorophenyl)tropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester ([3H]WIN 35,428) binding. All the compounds prepared had the same absolute configuration as cocaine; they include analogues possessing chemically reactive groups such as the isothiocyanato and bromoacetamido as well as photoactive azido groups. The potentially irreversible ligands, as well as all the intermediates prepared in this study, were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the binding of [3H]WIN 35,428 in coincubation experiments. Of the potentially irreversible ligands, 3 beta-(p-chlorophenyl)tropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid 2-[p-(bromoacetamido)phenyl]ethyl ester (6c) had the highest apparent potency. The potentially irreversible ligands were also preincubated, and inhibition of [3H]WIN 35,428 binding was determined both before and after washing the ligand-exposed tissues. The most effective ligands in this regard were 3 beta-(3-iodo-4-azidophenyl)tropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (5) and 3 beta-(p-chlorophenyl)tropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid 2-(3-iodo-4-azidophenyl)ethyl ester (6d). The structure-activity relationships of these data are discussed.

N-Modified analogs of cocaine: synthesis and inhibition of binding to the cocaine receptor

Cocaine methiodide (2), N-norcocaine (1b), N-benzyl-N-norcocaine (1c), and N-nor-N-acetylcocaine (1d) were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit binding of [3H]-3 beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (WIN 35,428) to the cocaine receptor. The study showed that removal of the N-methyl group to give 1b, or replacement with the larger N-benzyl group to give 1c, has a relatively small effect on binding potency. In contrast, replacement of the N-methyl group by the acetyl moiety to give 1d, or the addition of a methyl group to give 2, reduces affinity for the receptor by a large factor. In order to gain preliminary information concerning the importance of the nitrogen location on the tropane ring system, the receptor binding affinity of 8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3 beta-ol benzoate (5, beta-tropacocaine) was compared to that of the isomeric 6-methyl-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3 beta-ol benzoate (4d). The fact that both compounds have similar binding affinities for the cocaine receptor suggests that 3 beta-(benzoyloxy)-6-methyl-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1] octane-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester, which is isomeric with cocaine, may possess binding potency similar to cocaine.

2.beta.-Substituted analogs of cocaine. Synthesis and inhibition of binding to the cocaine receptor

The potencies of a series of 2 beta-substituted cocaine analogues to displace [3H]-3 beta-(p-fluorophenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester binding in rat striatal membranes demonstrate the requirement for a 2 beta-substituent with two hydrogen-bond acceptors. The insensitivity of the ester moiety to steric and electronic factors suggests its modification to provide site-specific irreversible ligands.

Synthesis, ligand binding, QSAR, and CoMFA study of 3.beta.-(p-substituted phenyl)tropane-2.beta.-carboxylic acid methyl esters

A series of 3 beta-(p-substituted phenyl)tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl esters (2) were synthesized and found to possess high affinity for the cocaine binding site in rat striatum. The p-chloro (2c) and p-iodo (2n) compounds, which were the most potent analogues prepared, were found to be 85 and 78 times more potent than (-)-cocaine. The p-bromo (2m) and p-methyl (2d) were also 56 and 60 times more potent than cocaine. QSAR and CoMFA studies were conducted to correlate binding affinity of the cocaine analogues with their structural features. Whereas the QSAR study gave relatively low correlations, the CoMFA study gave a correlation with high predictive value.