A peripherally acting alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist: L-659,066

L-659,066 has been characterized as a potent and selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist. Both in vitro and in vivo, L-659,066 exhibited specificity (comparable to rauwolscine) for alpha-2 over alpha-1 adrenoceptors. Studies comparing L-659,066 with a previously described antagonist, L-657,743, demonstrate that the new compound penetrates the blood-brain barrier only poorly after systemic administration. With a pA2 of 8.44 at alpha-2 adrenoceptors in the isolated rat vas deferens and an IC50 of 3.0 nM against the binding of [3H]rauwolscine to rat cerebrocortical membranes, L-659,066 possessed, respectively, about one-eighth and one-third of the potency of L-657,743. Similar relative potencies were obtained in vivo in pithed rats with regard to blocking peripherally located postjunctional and prejunctional alpha-2 adrenoceptors (L-659,066 = one-seventh and one-fourth of L-657,743, respectively). In tests carried out in vivo with rats for ascertaining alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonism in the central nervous system--namely, accumulation of cortical dopa and antagonism of mydriasis induced by the alpha-2 agonist, clonidine--L-659,066 had, respectively, less than 1/345th and about 1/5000th of the potency of L-657,743. In mice, L-659,066 had, respectively, approximately 1/29th and 1/1400th of the potency of L-657,743 as an antagonist in vivo of the predominately peripherally mediated inhibition of colonic propulsion caused by clonidine as compared with the mainly centrally mediated antinocisponsive action elicited by the alpha-2 agonist UK 14,304. The foregoing findings are consistent with poor penetration of the blood-brain barrier by L-659,066.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)