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2-Methyl-3-(2(S)-pyrrolidinylmethoxy)pyridine, ABT-089 (S-4), a member of the 3-pyridyl ether class of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands, shows positive effects in rodent and primate models of cognitive enhancement and a rodent model of anxiolytic activity and possesses a reduced propensity to activate peripheral ganglionic type receptors. The profiles of S-4, its N-methyl analogue, and the corresponding enantiomers across several measures of cholinergic channel function in vitro and in vivo are presented, together with in vitro metabolism and in vivo bioavailability data. On the basis of its biological activities and favorable oral bioavailability, S-4 is an attractive candidate for further evaluation as a treatment for cognitive disorders.

Ligands which activate neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) represent a potential approach for the palliative treatment for the symptoms of memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Based upon this approach, a series of novel 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles and isothiazoles were prepared and evaluated in vitro as cholinergic channel activators (ChCAs) of neuronal nAChRs. Many of the 3-substituted 5-(2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazoles were found to have nanomolar binding affinities comparable to (S)-nicotine (2a) in a preparation of whole rat brain. However, in a paradigm measuring the evoked release of [3H]dopamine from a preparation of rat striatum, there were differences in the agonist potencies and efficacies of these analogues relative to 2a. The differences in agonist potency observed between compounds of comparable binding potency may be due to differences in ligand interactions with various subtypes of neuronal nAChRs.

The metabolism of the cholinergic channel activator [3H]ABT-418 was studied in 9,000g supernatant (S-9) fractions and precision-cut tissue slices prepared from rat, dog, monkey, and human livers. In rat S-9 fractions and tissue slices, the lactam and trans N'-oxide were detected as major metabolites. The lactam was also the major metabolite in monkey and human S-9 fractions and tissue slices, although the rate of formation was greater in monkey (Vmax' of 428 vs. 103 pmol/min/mg S-9 protein). Trans N'-oxide was not detected in either species, but low levels of the cis N'-oxide were detected in tissue slice preparations from two human subjects. In contrast, trans ABT-418 N'-oxide was identified as a major metabolite in dog S-9 fractions (Vmax' of 266 pmol metabolite formed/min/mg S-9 protein) and tissue slices. Although identified as a minor metabolite in dog S-9 fractions, the lactam metabolite was shown to account for a sizeable proportion of the total radioactivity in the corresponding tissue slice preparations (22% of the total radioactivity at 12 hr); the rank order of lactam formation by the precision-cut liver slices was monkey > human > rat > or = dog. Evidence that N'-oxidation and C-oxidation (to lactam) of ABT-418 was mediated by liver microsomal flavin-containing mono-oxygenase (FMO) and cytochromes P-450 (CYPs), respectively, was obtained with the inhibitors thiobenzamide and clotrimazole. The involvement of cytosolic aldehyde oxidase (AO) was suggested by a significant correlation (r2 = 0.998, p < 0.01) between the observed rate of lactam formation and AO (N1-methylnicotinamide oxidase) activity in rat, dog, monkey, and human S-9 fractions; inhibition of lactam formation by the AO substrate N1-methylnicotinamide; and the lack of lactam formation in the absence of cytosol. Data indicate that the species-related differences in the hepatic metabolism of ABT-418 may be dependent on the relative levels and/or activity of FMO, CYP, and AO. In this regard, ABT-418 is very similar to nicotine. However, unlike nicotine, the N-demethylation of parent drug and the further products of lactam metabolism was not detected.

A diversity of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes has been identified in mammalian brain using recombinant DNA technology. Alterations in the activity of these acetylcholinegated ion channels have been implicated in a number of central nervous system disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). The potential therapeutic usefulness of (-)-nicotine [(S)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl) pyridine], the prototypic agonist at nAChRs, is severely limited by side effects that are the result of activation of both cholinergic and noncholinergic pathways in the central and peripheral nervous systems. This study sought to determine the in vitro selectivity of (S)-3-methyl-5-(1methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole (ABT 418), a novel analog of (-)-nicotine in which the pyridine ring was replaced with an isoxazole bioisotere, to activate nAChRs. ABT 418 was a potent inhibitor of [3H]-cytisine binding to nAChR in rat brain (Ki = 3 nM) but was inactive (Ki > 10,000 nM) in 37 other receptor/neurotransmitter-uptake/enzyme/transduction system binding assays, including those for alpha-bungarotoxin, muscarinic and 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptors. In PC12 cells, patch-clamp studies indicated that ABT 418 was an agonist with an EC50 value of 209 microM, a potency to activate cholinergic channel currents some 4-fold less than that of (-)-nicotine (52 microM). Channel current responses elicited by ABT 418 were prevented by the cholinergic channel blocker, mecamylamine. ABT 418 was also approximately 10-fold less potent (EC50 value = 380 nM) than (-)-nicotine (40 nM) in increasing [3H]-dopamine release from rat striatal slices, an effect that was blocked by the nAChR antagonist, dihydro-beta-erythroidine (10 microM).2+ In contrast, ABT 418 appeared equipotent with (-)-nicotine in enhancing 86Rb+ flux from mouse thalamic synaptosomes. ABT 418 demonstrated an in vitro pharmacological profile of cholinergic channel activation that was robust at some nAChR, but not others. The reasons for this are unclear. However, a nAChR subtype selectivity may account for the in vitro potency differences of ABT 418 on various neurotransmitter systems, and the substantial separation between the cognitive enhancement/anxiolytic benefits, and the reduced central nervous system side-effect liabilities seen in vivo. ABT 418 represents the first neuronal nAChR ligand that differentiates the toxicities/liabilities and other negative aspects normally associated with liabilities and other negative aspects normally associated with (-)-nicotine from the potential pharmacological benefits of selective cholinergic channel activation.