Ellipticine derivatives interact with muscarinic receptors

Ellipticine derivatives or analogues, tetracyclic alkaloids used in human cancer treatment, have been evaluated with regard to their interaction with several neurotransmitter receptors, in order to explain or to predict the side effects which occur in man. These drugs were recently found to be reversible non-competitive inhibitors of cholinesterases. In this study, we have shown that ellipticines are also potent muscarinic antagonists, only 100-fold less active than atropine in inhibiting 50% of the specific binding of (3H) quinuclidinyl benzilate on rat brain preparation of muscarinic receptors. That the interaction with muscarinic receptors is quite unique has been demonstrated by the lack of interaction with three other neurotransmitter receptors. Tertiary amines show relatively less blockade of muscarinic receptors, while substituted ammonium ions are better inhibitors of the QNB binding. The possible mechanisms of in vivo action of these alkaloids is discussed.