thebaine and Neuroblastoma

The present study was undertaken to compare the neurotoxic effects of three etorphine-like opiates (etorphine, dihydroetorphine, and another derivative of oripavine) and heroin with their ability to activate opiate receptors in human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH as well as in two other neuronal cell lines. Neurotoxicity was measured by using [3H]-thymidine incorporation analysis, cell viability measurement and Cytosensor microphysiometry. It was found that, in spite of the very similar molecular structures of these opiates, they displayed significant differences in cytotoxicity, with etorphine and another derivative of oripavine possessing high potency but dihydroetorphine and heroin little effect. However, neurotoxic potency of the opiates was not directly correlated to their ability to activate opioid receptors, as determined by [35S]-guanylyl-5'-O-(gamma-tho)-triphosphate binding assay. These findings provide clear evidence of differential neurotoxicity of etorphine-like opiates, and suggest that the neurotoxicity is not closely related to the molecular configuration required as opioid receptor agonist but is probably associated with the presence of a double bond in the structure.

Topics: Animals; Cell Survival; Etorphine; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Heroin; Humans; Narcotics; Neuroblastoma; Neurotoxins; PC12 Cells; Rats; Receptors, Opioid; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thebaine; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Syntheses of affinity reagents for opiate receptors based on the fentanyl, endo-ethenotetrahydrooripavine, and etonitazene carbon-nitrogen skeletons are described. The isothiocyanate, bromoacetamido, and methylfumaramido alkylating functions were employed in these compounds, some of which had previously been shown to be mu specific (12, BIT) and delta specific (8, FIT and 19, FAO) in vitro. Antinociceptive activity of the title compounds was determined in the mouse hot-plate test, which revealed that certain compounds in each class showed morphine-like activity. The binding EC50 values against [3H]Dalamid for opiate receptors in NG108-15 (delta receptors) and rat brain membranes (mu + delta receptors) are also reported. With this type of experiment, it was possible to independently measure the apparent affinity of the etonitazene congeners 12-14 for the mu and delta receptors.

Topics: Animals; Benzimidazoles; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Fentanyl; Glioma; Hybrid Cells; Indicators and Reagents; Ligands; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; Mice; Narcotic Antagonists; Neuroblastoma; Rats; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thebaine

Nine new compounds have been synthesized as potential affinity ligands for specific opioid receptors. The biochemical properties of three of these compounds were examined in detail and one of them, N-cyclopropylmethyl-7 alpha-methylfumaroylamido-6, 14-endoethenotetrahydronororipavine (NIH 10236), was found to be a potent irreversible ligand for the delta opioid receptor. It had the properties of a narcotic antagonist, as determined by its effect on adenylate cyclase activity of NG108-15 neuroblastoma-glioma cell homogenates. It is, thus, the first delta specific alkylating ligand known which is a narcotic antagonist. A second compound, the N-cyclopropylmethyl-7 alpha-isothiocyanato-6, 14-endoethenotetrahydronororipavine (NIH 10235) was found to be a mu specific alkylating ligand in brain and a reversible antagonist in the NG108-15 cells.

Topics: Animals; Binding, Competitive; Brain; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Glioma; Hybrid Cells; Ligands; Mice; Morphinans; Neuroblastoma; Rats; Receptors, Opioid; Thebaine