Muscarinic receptor subtype selectivity of novel heterocyclic QNB analogues

Comparative distribution of binding of the muscarinic receptor ligands pirenzepine, AF-DX 384, (R,R)-I-QNB and (R,S)-I-QNB to human brain

Quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) and its derivatives are being developed to investigate muscarinic receptor changes in vivo in Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. This is the first study of [125I]-(R,R)-I-QNB and [125I]-(R,S)-I-QNB binding in vitro in human brain. We have compared the in vitro binding of the muscarinic ligands [3H]pirenzepine and [3H]AF-DX 384, which have selectivity for the M1 and M2/M4 receptor subtypes, respectively, to the binding of [125I]-(R,R)-I-QNB and [125I]-(R,S)-I-QNB. This will provide a guide to the interpretation of in vivo SPET images generated with [123I]-(R,R)-I-QNB and [123I]-(R,S)-I-QNB. Binding was investigated in striatum, globus pallidus, thalamus and cerebellum, and cingulate, insula, temporal and occipital cortical areas, which show different proportions of muscarinic receptor subtypes, in post-mortem brain from normal individuals. M1 receptors are of high density in cortex and striatum and are relatively low in the thalamus and cerebellum, while M4 receptors are mainly expressed in the striatum, and M2 receptors are most evident in the cerebellum and thalamus. [125I]-(R,R)-I-QNB and [125I]-(R,S)-I-QNB density distribution patterns were consistent with binding to both M1 and M4 receptors, with [125I]-(R,R)-I-QNB additionally binding to a non-cholinergic site not displaceable by atropine. This distribution can be exploited by in vivo imaging, developing ligands for both SPET and PET, to reveal muscarinic receptor changes in Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies during the disease process and following cholinergic therapy.

Boronic acid adducts of technetium dioxime (BATO) complexes derived from quinuclidine benzilate (QNB) boronic acid stereoisomers: syntheses and studies of their binding to the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor

We have investigated the possibility of using BATO complexes derivatized with the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist, quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB), for mAChR imaging. The BATO complexes, TcCl(DMG)3B-QNB, were prepared using QNB derivatives containing a 4'-boronic acid substituent on one of the benzilic benzene rings (QNB-boronic acid). The QNB-boronic acid molecule has two chiral centers, and all four QNB-BATO stereoisomers were made and evaluated. When studied using in vitro receptor binding assays based on tissue from rat brain caudate-putamen (which contains primarily M1 and M4 mAChR) and rat heart (M2 mAChR), the QNB-boronic acid stereoisomers had binding affinities (KA) in the range 2 x 10(5)-1 x 10(8), at least 10-fold lower than the KA for QNB (ca 2 x 10(9)). The stereochemistry of both centers had some influence on the affinity constant. When the TcCl(DMG)3B-QNB complexes were studied, none of the stereoisomeric complexes displayed measurable specific binding (KA < 10(6)), but all showed high non-specific binding. In vitro autoradiography with rat brain slices confirmed the absence of specific binding in these tracers. In vivo, the 99mTcCl(DMG)3B-QNB complexes displayed minimal brain uptake, and modest heart uptake; the latter was unlikely to be related to uptake by the mAChR. In light of these findings, we conclude that the interaction between the TcCl(DMG)3B-QNB complexes and biological membranes is dominated by the hydrophobicity of the BATO moiety. The TcCl(DMG)3B-QNB complexes, therefore, have little potential for mAChR imaging.

3-alpha-Chlorimperialine: an M2-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist that penetrates into brain

Muscarinic M2 receptors have been found to be severely depleted in post-mortem brains of Alzheimer's patients. This loss of receptor may represent a useful diagnostic marker, if it could be quantitatively imaged with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. In order to develop a radioligand with selectivity for muscarinic M2 receptors, we now report that 3-alpha-chlorimperialine is a potent M2 receptor antagonist with a Ki of 0.32 nM at M2 receptors, a 12-fold selectivity for M2 over M1 receptors, and a 5-fold selectivity for M2 over M4 receptors. Furthermore, 2% of the injected dose of 3-alpha-chlorimperialine per gram tissue penetrates into brain within 30 min, then washes out gradually. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that 3-alpha-chlorimperialine is a potent M2-selective muscarinic antagonist that penetrates into brain and may be a useful substrate for radioiodination and subsequent imaging of brain muscarinic M2 receptors.

Muscarinic receptor selectivities of 3-Quinuclidinyl 8-xanthenecarboxylate (QNX) in rat brain

We have determined the binding of (R)-3-Quinuclidinyl 8-xanthenecarboxylate to muscarinic acetylcholine receptor preparations from rat cortex, hippocampus, caudate/putamen, thalamus, pons and colliculate bodies. The competition curves determined with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate as the radioligand are well described by a two site model with a difference in affinity between the two sites of 12-fold. The proportions of high affinity site vary from 100% in the caudate/putamen to 0% in the pons/medulla. The selectivities are different from those measured by pirenzepine and are consistent with QNX exhibiting similar affinity for the M1, M3, and M4 receptors with lower affinity for the M2 receptor. This assignment was confirmed by determining the affinities of QNX for the cloned receptor subtypes.

Use of ex vivo binding to measure the brain concentrations of putative radioligands

The development of radioligands capable of imaging brain receptors depends on, amongst other factors, the ability of such compounds to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. We describe an ex vivo binding technique for measuring the brain concentration of peripherally administered unlabeled compounds. This technique can be used early in the development of putative radioligands. The pharmacokinetics of brain penetration of three muscarinic antagonists are described: QNB, BrQNB and the 2-thienyl derivative of BrQNB and were found to compare favorably to previous studies using [3H]QNB. These studies demonstrate the effectiveness of ex vivo binding in assessing the brain concentration of peripherally administered unlabeled compounds.

A novel m2-selective muscarinic antagonist: binding characteristics and autoradiographic distribution in rat brain

Although several m2-selective muscarinic antagonists have been described, they are not particularly potent. Thus, the development of potent m2-selective compounds remains an important goal. We now report that a bio-isoster of AQ-RA 741 is both one order of magnitude more potent and slightly more selective than previously described compounds. DIBA, a di-benzo derivative of AQ-RA 741, in which the pyridine of the tricycle is replaced with a benzene ring, had Ki values of 4, 0.3, 11 and 2 nM at m1 through m4 receptors, respectively. These values were determined in competition studies with [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) in membranes from transfected A9 L cells (m1 and m3), rat heart (m2) and NG108-15 cells (m4). AQ-RA 741 had Ki values of 34, 4, 86 and 15 nM at each of these receptors. The autoradiographic distribution of DIBA binding sites was determined by competition studies of [3H]NMS in rat brain. At low concentration, DIBA reduced [3H]NMS binding most significantly from superior colliculi, thalamus, hypothalamus, pontine nucleus, and interpeduncular nucleus, and not appreciably from caudate nucleus, cerebral cortical regions, or hippocampus, consistent with its binding to m2 receptors. These data indicate that DIBA is the most potent, m2-selective muscarinic antagonist yet described. DIBA should therefore become a useful probe in future studies of muscarinic function.

The in vitro dissociation kinetics of (R,R)-[125I]4IQNB is reflected in the in vivo washout of the radioligand from rat brain

We have determined the kinetics of dissociation of (R)-3-Quinuclidinyl (R)-4-[125I]Iodobenzilate ((R,R)-[125I]4IQNB) from muscarinic acetylcholine receptor preparations from the cortex, hippocampus, caudate/putamen, thalamus, pons and colliculate bodies. The dissociation curves are well described by a biexponential function and are consistent with subtype selectivity favoring slow dissociation from the M1, M3, and M4 receptors with a 20-fold faster dissociation rate for the M2 receptor. Following intravenous injection, (R,R)-[125I]4IQNB binds to receptor in the rat brain in concentrations which reflect the receptor concentration present in a structure. We determined the extent of radioligand present at two times, 2 and 24 hrs, as an indication of the relative proportions of m-AChR which exhibits rapid vs. slow dissociation of (R,R)-[125I]4IQNB. A good correlation between in vitro and in vivo results suggests that the relative populations of receptor subtypes can be imaged using in vivo pharmacokinetics of (R,R)-[125I]4IQNB.

Binding of radioiodinated SPECT ligands to transfected cell membranes expressing single muscarinic receptor subtypes

The equilibrium dissociation constant and the kinetic rate constants were determined for the binding of (R)-[3H]3-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) and [125I]3-quinuclidinyl-4-iodobenzilate ((R,R)- and (R,S)-[125I]IQNB) to transfected cell membranes expressing one single muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) subtype. The association and dissociation kinetics for the m2 subtype were more rapid than for the m1 and m3 subtypes. The differential kinetic properties may be useful for the single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) evaluation of regional mAChR subtype alterations in disease states.