Three new epoxy-spirolactone derivatives: characterization in vivo and in vitro

The use of spironolactone, the most commonly used antimineralocorticoid compound, is limited by the occurrence of sexual endocrine effects. New antagonists are therefore required which lack these unwanted effects. Three 9 alpha,11 alpha-epoxy-derivatives of known aldosterone antagonists (spironolactone, prorenone and mexrenone) have been characterised in vitro and in vivo. In each experiment spironolactone was run as a reference. The introduction of the epoxy-group only marginally affected the binding affinity of these compounds for the mineralocorticoid receptor, whereas it caused a decrease for the androgen and progesterone receptors of between 10- and 500-fold. In vivo, all three epoxy-derivatives (3 mg/kg) were potent aldosterone antagonists, 1 to 2 times the potency of spironolactone in the rat. Parallel to the decreased affinity for the androgen and progesterone receptor in vitro, there was a 3- to 10-fold decrease of the antiandrogenic and progestagenic effect compared to spironolactone in the rat and in the rabbit, respectively. Virtually no disturbance of the vaginal or ovulatory cycle was observed with either epoxymexrenone or epoxyprorenone, although epoxyspironolactone caused a 20% decrease in ovulation. It appears therefore that the 9 alpha, 11 alpha-position of the steroid structure is a site of the molecule which can be modified to improve the specificity of aldosterone-antagonists not only in vitro, but also in vivo.