Pharmacological studies on 1-nitro-9-alkyl acridine derivatives. I. Acute and subchronic action

Preclinical pharmacologic studies of two further acridine derivatives, 1-nitro-9-(diethylaminopropylamino)-acridine (C-410) and 1-nitro-9-(diethylaminoethylamino)-acridine (C-516) are reported. Both compounds are characterized by high toxicity, especially when injected intravenously, poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, and local irritant action. Local irritation can be partly alleviated by using phosphate buffer of pH 7.0 as solvent. Both preparations caused hemodynamic changes (hypotension) due to stimulation of the parasympathetic system (in cats), and higher doses showed direct action on the myocardium. Both preparations acted directly on smooth muscles, predominantly spastically (blood vessels, intestines in vivo and in vitro), and spasmolytically only on the smooth muscle of the urinary bladder in cats. Compound C-410 is deprived of a central component, and compound C-516 in most tests exhibited sedative properties. Despite moderate impairment of spermato- and spermiogenesis, neither of the compounds depressed reproductivity of the animals and no teratogenic action was observed.