piperidines and 5-aminovaleric-acid

We have recently reported that the administration of AM404, an inhibitor of the endocannabinoid re-uptake process, which also has affinity for the vanilloid VR1 receptors, is able to reduce hyperkinesia, and causes recovery from neurochemical deficits, in a rat model of Huntington's disease (HD) generated by bilateral intrastriatal injections of 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP). In the present study, we wanted to explore the mechanism(s) by which AM404 produces its antihyperkinetic effect in 3NP-lesioned rats by employing several experimental approaches. First, we tried to block the effects of AM404 with selective antagonists for the CB1 or VR1 receptors, i.e. SR141716A and capsazepine, respectively. We found that the reduction caused by AM404 of the increased ambulation exhibited by 3NP-lesioned rats in the open-field test was reversed when the animals had been pre-treated with capsazepine but not with SR141716A, thus suggesting a major role of VR1 receptors in the antihyperkinetic effects of AM404. However, despite the lack of behavioral effects of the CB1 receptor antagonist, the pretreatment with this compound abolished the recovery of neurochemical [gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine] deficits in the caudate- putamen caused by AM404, as also did capsazepine. In a second group of studies, we wanted to explore the potential antihyperkinetic effects of various compounds which, compared to AM404, exhibit more selectivity for either the endovanilloid or the endocannabinoid systems. First, we tested VDM11 or AM374, two selective inhibitors or the endocannabinoid re-uptake or hydrolysis, respectively. Both compounds were mostly unable to reduce hyperkinesia in 3NP-lesioned rats, although VDM11 produced a certain motor depression, and AM374 exhibited a trend to stimulate ambulation, in control rats. We also tested the effects of selective direct agonists for VR1 (capsaicin) or CB1 (CP55,940) receptors. Capsaicin exhibited a strong antihyperkinetic activity and, moreover, was able to attenuate the reductions in dopamine and GABA transmission provoked by the 3NP lesion, whereas CP55,940 had also antihyperkinetic activity but was unable to cause recovery of either dopamine or GABA deficits in the basal ganglia. In summary, our data indicate a major role for VR1 receptors, as compared to CB1 receptors, in the antihyperkinetic effects and the recovery of neurochemical deficits caused in 3NP-lesioned rats by compounds that activate both CB1 and VR1 receptors,

Topics: 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; Amino Acids, Neutral; Animals; Arachidonic Acids; Basal Ganglia; Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; Capsaicin; Corpus Striatum; Cyclohexanols; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine; Endocannabinoids; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Huntington Disease; Hyperkinesis; Male; Motor Activity; Nitro Compounds; Palmitates; Piperidines; Propionates; Pyrazoles; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Cannabinoid; Receptors, Drug; Rimonabant

Intraperitoneal injection of the cyclic imine 1-piperideine in mice resulted in measurable quantities of 5-aminopentanoic acid in brain. 5-Aminopentanoic acid is a methylene homologue of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that is a weak GABA agonist. 5-Aminopentanoic acid formed in the periphery was ruled out as the source of brain 5-aminopentanoic acid based on the absence of detection in brain following injection of 100 mg/kg of 5-aminopentanoic acid. Deuterium-labeled 1-piperideine was prepared by exchange in deuterated phosphate buffer. Injection of [3.3-2H2]1-piperideine yielded [2.2-2H2]5-aminopentanoic acid in brain. The results are consistent with uptake of 1-piperideine into brain and oxidation of the precursor to 5-aminopentanoic acid. Inhibition of GABA catabolism by pretreatment with aminooxyacetic acid increased brain concentrations of 5-aminopentanoic acid formed from 1-piperideine, suggesting that 5-aminopentanoic acid is an in vivo substrate of 4-aminobutyrate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase.

Topics: Amino Acids; Amino Acids, Neutral; Aminooxyacetic Acid; Animals; Brain Chemistry; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Piperidines; Pyridines

1-Piperideine, 5-aminopentanoic acid, and its lactam, 2-piperidone, were identified as metabolites of cadaverine in 10,000 g mouse liver supernatants to which diamine oxidase had been added. Both metabolites were also found when the cadaverine metabolite 1-piperideine was incubated with the preparation which suggested that 1-piperideine is an intermediate in the formation of 5-aminopentanoic acid and 2-piperidone. Identification of the metabolites was based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis in comparison to authentic standards. Mouse brain homogenates converted 1-piperideine to 5-aminopentanoic acid. The results suggest that the metabolic fate of cadaverine may provide precursors of pharmacologically active analogues of GABA.

Topics: Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing); Amino Acids; Amino Acids, Neutral; Animals; Cadaverine; Diamines; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Liver; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Piperidines; Piperidones; Pyridines