piperidines and minaprine

Following the discovery of the weak, competitive and reversible acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-inhibiting activity of minaprine (3c) (IC50 = 85 microM on homogenized rat striatum AChE), a series of 3-amino-6-phenylpyridazines was synthesized and tested for inhibition of AChE. A classical structure-activity relationship exploration suggested that, in comparison to minaprine, the critical elements for high AChE inhibition are as follows: (i) presence of a central pyridazine ring, (ii) necessity of a lipophilic cationic head, (iii) change from a 2- to a 4-5-carbon units distance between the pyridazine ring and the cationic head. Among all the derivatives investigated, 3-[2-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)ethylamino]-6-phenylpyridazine (3y), which shows an IC50 of 0.12 microM on purified AChE (electric eel), was found to be one of the most potent anti-AChE inhibitors, representing a 5000-fold increase in potency compared to minaprine.1

Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Animals; Butyrylcholinesterase; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Neostriatum; Piperidines; Pyridazines; Rats; Structure-Activity Relationship

The active site of minaprine (3-(2-morpholinoethylamino)-4-methyl-6-phenylpyridazine) was studied by means of receptor binding and its effect on acetylcholine (ACh) release in rat hippocampus. [3H]Minaprine binding to the hippocampal membrane was inhibited by minaprine, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and phencyclidine (PCP) dose-dependently, whereas it was not inhibited by L-glutamate (L-Glu), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV), 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine ((+)3-PPP) or ketamine. [3H]PCP binding was inhibited by PCP and APV in an extensively washed hippocampal membrane. Minaprine, however, failed to inhibit the [3H]PCP binding. [3H]3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) binding was inhibited by L-Glu but not by minaprine. NMDA-evoked [3H]ACh release from the rat hippocampal slices was effectively inhibited by PCP. However, minaprine had no effect on the NMDA-evoked [3H]ACh release. Similar results were obtained from the study of [3H]ACh release in the striatum. These results suggest that minaprine exerts its action via the voltage-dependent K+ channel but not via the NMDA receptor-channel complex or sigma receptor.

Topics: 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; Acetylcholine; Animals; Binding Sites; Hippocampus; Ketamine; Male; Membranes; N-Methylaspartate; Phencyclidine; Piperazines; Piperidines; Potassium Channels; Pyridazines; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

The effects of minaprine on cycloheximide-induced amnesia were investigated in a step-down passive avoidance task in mice. Minaprine significantly improved cycloheximide-induced amnesia. This effect was inhibited by scopolamine, but was potentiated by physostigmine. The anti-amnesic effect of minaprine on the cycloheximide-induced memory impairment was also antagonized by a serotonin (5-HT) releaser, p-chloroamphetamine, and by a 5-HT precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan, whereas a 5-HT1A-selective agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, was inactive. The memory-improving effect of minaprine on cycloheximide-induced amnesia was potentiated by a selective 5-HT2 antagonist, ritanserin. These results suggest that the beneficial effect of minaprine on cycloheximide-induced amnesia may be related not only to cholinergic but also serotonergic neuronal systems (5-HT2 receptors).

Topics: 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; Amnesia; Animals; Avoidance Learning; Cycloheximide; Drug Interactions; Male; Mice; p-Chloroamphetamine; Physostigmine; Piperidines; Pyridazines; Ritanserin; Scopolamine; Tetrahydronaphthalenes