lon-954 and Tremor

LON-954 [N-carbamoyl-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl) acetamidine hydrochloride], a novel tremorogen known to affect the central dopaminergic system, has been investigated in rats for tremor and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) metabolism. Five, 10 and 20 mg/kg of LON-954 IP caused a reproducible and consistent tremor with a high frequency (16 Hz) within 2 minutes and lasting 30-45 minutes. 5-HT content of the tuberculum olfactorium and basal ganglia was found to be increased significantly at a time when 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) content showed a decrease. 5-HT and 5-HIAA of medulla oblongata showed significant changes only after 15 minutes. The alterations in the levels of the indoleamine in tuberculum olfactorium and its relationship with dosage as well as duration and intensity of LON-954 tremor indicate the involvement of the mesolimbic system in its action. A direct role of 5-HT in LON-tremor was evidenced since the drug failed to produce tremor in rats pretreated with p-chlorophenylalanine (300 mg/kg IP) for 3 days.

Topics: Animals; Basal Ganglia; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Male; Medulla Oblongata; Olfactory Bulb; Rats; Serotonin; Tremor; Urea

The tremors induced by harmine, LON-954 (N-carbamoyl-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)acetamidine hydrochloride) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) were studied in control rats and in rats withdrawn for 16-48 hrs from 6 to 9 days' ethanol administration. The frequencies and the intensities of the tremors were determined electronically. In control rats the frequency spectra of the tremors induced by harmine (20 mg/kg) and LON-954 (10 mg/kg) showed a narrow peak frequency at about 10 Hz. Atropine (1.2 mg/kg) altered neither the frequency nor the intensity of these tremors. 5-HTP (50 mg/kg) when given 3.5 hrs after iproniazid (100 mg/kg) induced tremor with peak frequencies at 6-7 Hz and 12 Hz. In ethanol-withdrawn rats treated with harmine or LON-954 the frequency analysis of tremor revealed a narrow peak frequency at about 12 Hz, which was neither the characteristic frequency of ethanol withdrawal tremor (6 Hz) nor that of harmine or LON-954 (10 Hz). The intensity of both harmine- and LON-954-induced tremor was significantly increased in ethanol-withdrawn rats. The ethanol-withdrawn rats were markedly sensitized to the effect of iproniazid+ 5-HTP, shown by deaths. The peak frequencies of this tremor were the same as those in control rats. The results suggest that harmine-induced tremor involves a dopaminergic-5-HT'ergic imbalance and the tremor induced by LON-954 a dopaminergic-cholinergic imbalance in the brain. The tremor in ethanol-withdrawn rats seems to be mediated by alterations in the activity of the cerebral 5-HT'ergic system.

Topics: 5-Hydroxytryptophan; Alkaloids; Animals; Ethanol; Harmine; Male; Physostigmine; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Tremor; Urea

N-Carbamoyl-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)acetamidine HCl (LON 954), a tremorogenic drug, inhibited MAO activity in various tissue preparations in a reversible, competitive manner showing some degree of selectivity towards type-B MAO.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Dopamine; Guinea Pigs; In Vitro Techniques; Kinetics; Mitochondria, Liver; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; Rabbits; Rats; Tremor; Urea

Topics: Animals; Cats; Decerebrate State; Electrophysiology; Evoked Potentials; Female; Levodopa; Male; Reflex; Spinal Cord; Synapses; Tremor; Urea

Topics: Animals; Diaphragm; Female; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Muscle Contraction; Muscle Denervation; Muscles; Phrenic Nerve; Rats; Synapses; Tremor; Tubocurarine; Urea

Tremor produced in laboratory mice by the benzylimidoylurea derivative LON 954 was potentiated in a dose-dependent manner by a variety of typical and atypical neuroleptics. The most effective agents in this respect were those shown by other workers to have a selective action at dopamine receptors, notably the butyrophenones, thioxanthines and fluphenazine. Chlorpromazine and prochlorperazine produced inconsistent effects while clozapine and loxapine respectively delayed and prolonged the peak tremor response. While these findings support primary involvement of striatal dopaminergic mechanisms in LON 954 tremorogenesis, a reduction in cyclic AMP levels may be an important factor in the observed effects.

Topics: Animals; Antipsychotic Agents; Corpus Striatum; Dopamine Antagonists; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Male; Mice; Time Factors; Tremor; Urea

N-carbamoyl-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl) acetamidine hydrochloride (LON 954) causes a reproducible rest tremor in mice, of rapid onset and short duration with no associated rigidity or akinesia and in the absence of any marked changes in body temperature or accompanying peripheral parasympathomimetic effects. This tremor can be antagonised by the dopamine receptor agonists L-Dopa, bromocriptine, nomifensine and piribedil, as well as by anticholinergic anti-Parkinson drugs having an inhibitory effect on dopamine uptake such as benapryzine and benztropine. In contrast, benzhexol, orphenadrine and amantadine had no effect. LON 954 appears to be more specific than oxotremorine for the detection of drugs having therapeutic potential in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, particularly those exerting their effect through dopaminergic systems. An antagonist (BS 100-141), which is a structural isomer of LON 954, is also described.

Topics: Animals; Antiparkinson Agents; Benzimidazoles; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Drug Stability; Isomerism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Oxotremorine; Parkinson Disease, Secondary; Solubility; Tremor; Urea