Facilitation of acetylcholine release and improvement in cognition by a selective M2 muscarinic antagonist, SCH 72788.

Abstract

Current treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) requires acetylcholinesterase inhibition to increase acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations in the synaptic cleft. Another mechanism by which ACh levels can be increased is blockade of presynaptic M2 muscarinic autoreceptors that regulate ACh release. An antagonist designed for this purpose must be highly selective for M2 receptors to avoid blocking postsynaptic M1 receptors, which mediate the cognitive effects of ACh. Structure-activity studies of substituted methylpiperadines led to the synthesis of 4-[4-[1(S)-[4-[(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)sulfonyl]phenyl]ethyl]-3(R)-methyl-1-piperazinyl]-4-methyl-1-(propylsulfonyl)piperidine. This compound, SCH 72788, binds to cloned human M2 receptors expressed in CHO cells with an affinity of 0.5 nM, and its affinity at M1 receptors is 84-fold lower. SCH 72788 is a functional M2 antagonist that competitively inhibits the ability of the agonist oxotremorine-M to inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity. In an in vivo microdialysis paradigm, SCH 72788 increases ACh release from the striatum of conscious rats. The compound is also active in a rodent model of cognition, the young rat passive avoidance response paradigm. The effects of SCH 72788 suggest that M2 receptor antagonists may be useful for treating the cognitive decline observed in AD and other dementias.

• Authors: J E Lachowicz, R A Duffy, V Ruperto, J Kozlowski, G Zhou, J Clader, W Billard, H Binch 3rd, G Crosby, M Cohen-Williams, C D Strader, V Coffin
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 68 Issue 22-23 Pg. 2585-92 (Apr 27 2001) ISSN: 0024-3205 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 11392630 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Muscarinic Agonists
• Muscarinic Antagonists
• Piperazines
• Piperidines
• Receptor, Muscarinic M2
• Receptors, Muscarinic
• SCH 72788
• Oxotremorine
• Adenylyl Cyclases
• Acetylcholine

Topics

• Acetylcholine (metabolism)
• Adenylyl Cyclases (metabolism)
• Alzheimer Disease (drug therapy)
• Animals
• CHO Cells
• Cricetinae
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Humans
• Kinetics
• Learning (drug effects)
• Memory (drug effects)
• Molecular Structure
• Muscarinic Agonists (pharmacology)
• Muscarinic Antagonists (chemical synthesis, metabolism, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Oxotremorine (pharmacology)
• Piperazines (chemical synthesis, metabolism, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Piperidines (chemical synthesis, metabolism, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Radioligand Assay
• Rats
• Receptor, Muscarinic M2
• Receptors, Muscarinic (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction (physiology)
• Synapses (drug effects, metabolism)