bemesetron and tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate

Sixteen known 5-HT3 receptor blockers, including clozapine, fully or partially reverse the inhibitory effect of 1 microM GABA on [35S]TBPS binding, indicating that they are also GABA(A) antagonists, some of them selective for subsets of GABA(A) receptors. The 5-HT3 receptor blocker, ondansetron, has been reported to produce some antipsychotic and anxiolytic effects. However, no antipsychotic effects have been reported for a large number of highly potent 5-HT3 receptor blockers. Like clozapine, ondansetron partially reverses the inhibitory effect of GABA on [35S]TBPS binding. Additivity experiments suggest that ten 5-HT3 receptor blockers tested at low concentrations preferentially block subtypes of GABA(A) receptors that are among those blocked by clozapine. Wiley and Porter (29) reported that MDL-72222, the most potent GABA(A) antagonist described here, partially generalizes (71%) with clozapine in rats trained to discriminate an interoceptive clozapine stimulus, but only at a dose that severely decreases responding. Tropisetron (ICS-205,930) exhibits both GABA-positive and GABA-negative effects. R-(+)-zacopride is 6-fold more potent than S-(-)-zacopride as a GABA(A) antagonist. We conclude that the observed antipsychotic and, possibly, anxiolytic effects of some 5-HT3 receptor blockers are due to selective antagonism of certain GABA(A) receptors, and not to blockade of 5-HT3 receptors. We speculate that the anxiolytic and sedative effects of clozapine and several other antipsychotic drugs may be due to selective blockade of alpha1beta2gamma2 GABA(A) receptors which are preferentially located on certain types of GABAergic interneurons (probably parvalbumin positive). Blockade of these receptors will increase the inhibitory output of these interneurons. So far, no highly potent GABA(A) antagonists with clozapine-like selectivity have been identified. Such compounds may exhibit improved clozapine-like antipsychotic activity.

Topics: Animals; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzamides; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Clozapine; Drug Interactions; Female; GABA Antagonists; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Male; Ondansetron; Quinacrine; Quipazine; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Serotonin; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; Serotonin Antagonists; Sulfur Radioisotopes; Tropanes

Both 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and benzodiazepine receptor ligands have effects on anxiety, and alter the behavioral action of ethanol. For these reasons, we tested the ability of several 5-HT3 receptor antagonists to inhibit the ligand binding and function of the gamma-aminobutyric acidA/benzodiazepine receptor Cl- channel complex of mouse brain membranes. MDL 72222 (1-a-H-3-a-5-aH-optropan-3yl-3,5-dichlorobenzoate) and LY 278584 (1-methyl-N-(8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1.]oct-3-yl)-1H-indazole-3- carboxamide) inhibited [3H]flunitrazepam binding with Ki values of approximately 20 microM; ICS 205-930 (3 alpha-tropanyl-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid ester) was more potent with a Ki of 0.8 microM. ICS 205-930 (50 microM) had no effect on [3H]muscimol binding. ICS 205-930, MDL 72222, and LY 278584 all inhibited the binding of [35S]TBPS (tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate) with Ki values of approximately 10 microM and reduced muscimol-dependent 36Cl- flux into mouse cortical microsacs by 30-45% at a concentration of 10 microM. ICS 205-930, MDL 72222, and LY 278584 (at micromolar concentrations) reduced GABA-gated chloride currents studied in Xenopus oocytes expressing human alpha 1 beta 1 gamma 2S GABAA receptor subunits. ICS 205-930 differed from the other two 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in that it induced a biphasic effect on GABA-gated currents: at concentrations from 0.1 to 5 microM it potentiated GABA responses, whereas at higher concentrations (50-100 microM) it produced inhibition. The stimulatory action induced by ICS 205-930 was due to interaction at the benzodiazepine recognition site because expression of the gamma 2 subunit was required and Ro 15-1788 (1 microM) completely prevented the potentiation caused by ICS 205-930. Thus, several 5-HT3 receptor antagonists inhibit benzodiazepine binding and affect GABAA receptor function. These actions are most pronounced for ICS 205-930 and likely involve direct affects on the GABA/benzodiazepine complex rather than interactions with 5-HT3 receptors.

Topics: Animals; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Chlorides; Flumazenil; Flunitrazepam; Humans; Indazoles; Indoles; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Receptors, GABA-A; Serotonin Antagonists; Tropanes; Tropisetron; Xenopus laevis