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D E Nichols

Publications and source records attributed to D E Nichols.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Synthesis and molecular modeling of 1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines and related 5,6,8,9-tetrahydro-13bH-dibenzo[a,h]quinolizines as D1 dopamine antagonists.

New 1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines and related 5,6,8,9-tetrahydro- 13bH-dibenzo[a,h]-quinolizines were prepared as ring-contracted analogs of the prototypical 1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzazepines (e.g., SCH23390) as a continuation of our studies to characterize the antagonist binding pharmacophore of the D1 dopamine receptor. Receptor affinity was assessed by competition for [3H]SCH23390 binding sites in rat striatal membranes. The 6-bromo-1-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline analog 2 of SCH23390 1 had D1 binding affinity similar to that for the previously reported 6-chloro analog 6, whereas the 6,7-dihydroxy analog 5 had significantly lower D1 affinity. Conversely, neither 6-monohydroxy- (3) nor 7-monohydroxy-1-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines (4) had significant affinity for the D1 receptor. These results demonstrate that 6-halo and 7-hydroxy substituents influence D1 binding affinity of the 1-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines in a fashion similar to their effects on 1-phenyltetrahydrobenzazepines. The conformationally constrained 3-chloro-2-hydroxytetrahydrodibenzoquinolizine 9 had much lower affinity relative to the corresponding, and more flexible, 6-chloro-7-hydroxy-1-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline 6. Similarly, 2,3-dihydroxytetrahydrodibenzoquinolizine 10 had much lower D1 affinity compared to dihydrexidine 14, a structurally similar hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridine that is a high-affinity full D1 agonist. Together, these data not only confirm the effects of the halo and hydroxy substitutents on the parent nucleus but demonstrate the pharmacophoric importance of both the nitrogen position and the orientation of the accessory phenyl ring in modulating D1 receptor affinity and function. Molecular modeling studies and conformational analyses were conducted using the data from these new analogs in combination with the data from compounds previously synthesized. The resulting geometries were used to refine a working model of the D1 antagonist pharmacophore using conventional quantitative structure-activity relationships and three-dimensional QSAR (CoMFA).

Animals↗
PubMed1994

1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-aminopropane: a potent serotonin 5-HT2A/2C agonist.

A method was found to synthesize 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)-2-aminopropane, 5, and its des-alpha-methyl congener 2-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)aminoethane, 6, the trifluoromethyl analogs of substituted hallucinogenic phenethylamine derivatives such as 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (3, DOI) that are potent 5-HT2A/2C agonists. In our hands, 5 and 6 have proven to have affinity for [3H]ketanserin or [125I]-3-labeled 5-HT2A/2C sites in rat cortex comparable to or higher than the analogous bromo or iodo analogs. Similarly, 5 and 6 had potency comparable to or slightly greater than that of their bromo or iodo congeners in the two-lever drug discrimination assay in rats trained to discriminate saline from LSD tartrate. The agonist properties of 5 and 6 were evaluated by measuring the accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate in cultured cells selectively expressing either 5-HT2A or 5-HT2C receptors. In comparison to serotonin (5-HT), compounds 3 (DOI), 5, and 6 were equally efficacious and full agonists at the 5-HT2C receptor. Similarly, 3 and 5 produced equivalent responses at the 5-HT2A receptor as compared to 5-HT. In contrast, 6, the alpha-desmethyl analog of 5, was only half as potent at stimulating inositol monophosphate accumulation at the 5-HT2A receptor. In conclusion, the title compound 5 and its alpha-desmethyl congener 6 appear to be the most potent of the so-called hallucinogenic amphetamine 5-HT agonists reported to date. Further, the reduced efficacy of 6 at the 5-HT2A receptor may offer at least a partial explanation for the observed higher in vivo potencies of alpha-methyl-substituted compounds in this series.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1994

Effect of the R(-) and S(+) isomers of MDA and MDMA on phosphatidyl inositol turnover in cultured cells expressing 5-HT2A or 5-HT2C receptors.

The effect of the R(-) and S(+) isomers of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and its N-methyl analog 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on [3H]inositol monophosphate accumulation was studied in cells expressing either 5-HT2A or 5-HT2C receptors. The isomers of MDA produced a concentration dependent increase in phosphatidyl inositol (PI) hydrolysis at the 5-HT2A receptors, with the R(-) isomer of MDA being more potent than the S(+) at the 5-HT2A receptor. The R(-) and S(+) isomers of MDMA were significantly less efficacious at the 5-HT2A receptor as compared to MDA; S(+)MDMA had no effect. At the 5-HT2C receptor, both R(-) and S(+)MDA were equipotent at stimulating PI hydrolysis, with the S(+) isomer of MDMA being more efficacious at the 5-HT2C receptor compared with the R(-) isomer. In all cases at both the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors, the affinities of the isomers of MDMA and MDA were at least 2-3 orders of magnitude less than 5-HT. Despite the weak effect of these compounds at the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors, these substituted amphetamines do possess intrinsic activity which may contribute to their neurotoxic effects when administered at high doses.

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine↗
PubMed1994

Dopaminergic benzo[a]phenanthridines: resolution and pharmacological evaluation of the enantiomers of dihydrexidine, the full efficacy D1 dopamine receptor agonist.

Racemic trans-10,11-dihydroxy-5,6,6a,7,8,12b- hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridine (2, dihydrexidine) was shown previously to be the first bioavailable full efficacy agonist at the D1 dopamine receptor. In addition to its full D1 agonist properties, 2 also is a good ligand for D2-like dopamine receptors. The profound anti-Parkinsonian actions of this compound make determination of its enantioselectivity at both D1 and D2 receptors of particular importance. To accomplish this, the enantiomers were resolved by preparation of diastereomeric (R)-O-methylmandelic acid amides of racemic trans-10,11-dimethoxy-5,6,6a,7,8,12b- hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridine 4 that were then separated by centrifugal chromatography. An X-ray analysis of the (-)-N-(R)-O-methylmandel diastereoamide revealed the absolute configuration to be 6aS,12bR. Removal of the chiral auxiliary and O,O-deprotection afforded enantiomeric amines that were then tested for biological activity. In striatal membranes, the (6aR,12bS)-(+)-enantiomer 2 had about twice the affinity of the racemate and 25-fold greater affinity than the (-)-enantiomer at the D1 receptor labeled by [3H]SCH23390 (K0.5s of 5.6, 11.6, and 149 nM, respectively). Similarly, the (+)-enantiomer 2 had about twice the affinity of the racemate for human D1 receptors expressed in transfected Ltk- cells. Functionally, the (+)-enantiomer of 2 was a full agonist, with an EC50 of 51 nM in activating striatal dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase versus 2.15 microM for the (-)-enantiomer. With respect to D2-like receptors, (+)-2 had a K0.5 of 87.7 nM in competing with [3H]spiperone at D2 binding sites in rat striatal membranes versus about 1 microM for the (-)-enantiomer. Together, these data demonstrate that both the D1 and D2 activities of dihydrexidine reside principally in the (6aR,12bS)-(+)-enantiomer. The results are discussed in the context of structure-activity relationships and conceptual models of the D1 receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Behavioral effects of the highly selective serotonin releasing agent 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan.

The behavioral effects of 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan (MMAI) were examined using the drug discrimination procedure and direct observation for classification of the characteristic syndrome induced by MMAI. The stimulus effects of MMAI were studied in 5 different groups of rats trained to discriminate MMAI (1.71 mg/kg; 8 microM/kg), MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; 1.75 mg/kg; 7.6 microM/kg), (+)-MBDB ((+)-N-methylamino-(1,3-benzodioxo-5-yl)-2-butanamine; 1.75 mg/kg; 7.18 microM/kg), (+)-amphetamine (1 mg/kg; 5.4 microM/kg), or LSD ((+)-lysergic acid diethylamide tartrate; 0.08 mg/kg; 186 nM/kg) from saline. In substitution tests in rats trained to discriminate MMAI from saline, all the compounds which fully mimicked MMAI were serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) releasing agents. This substitution is symmetrical for MDMA and (+)-MBDB. Nevertheless, the dose-response curve of MMAI is parallel to those of (+)-fenfluramine (m-trifluoromethyl-N-ethylamphetamine) and p-chloroamphetamine. The results also show that MMAI lacks amphetamine-like and LSD-like discriminative stimulus effects, suggesting that MMAI is neither a psychostimulant nor a hallucinogen. Tests of the discriminability of MMAI after 5-HT depletion with the selective serotonin synthesis inhibitor, p-chlorophenylalanine (2 x 200 mg/kg i.p., pretreatment 72 h before test), showed only saline appropriate responding. Prolonged block (ca. 1 week) of the MMAI cue by p-chlorophenylalanine further supports the conclusion that endogenous 5-HT is essential for MMAI discrimination. Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) or paroxetine (2.5 mg/kg), both selective 5-HT uptake inhibitors, reduced the discriminability of MMAI to 40% and 50%, respectively. None of the antagonists (ketanserin, methiothepin, pindolol, yohimbine, haloperidol) used in antagonism tests inhibited the stimulus properties of MMAI. These results and data from radioligand binding studies support the conclusion that direct activation or inhibition of known neurotransmitter receptors did not play a significant role in the discriminative cue of MMAI. The administration of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg of MMAI to rats induced a behavioral syndrome consisting of hypolocomotion with accompanying catalepsy-like posture, turning, Straub tail, flat body posture, and suppressed sleeping time. In general, this is qualitatively similar to what is seen after administration of 5-HT precursors or 5-HT receptor agonists. In conclusion, the data from the drug discrimination study and the behavioral syndrome induced by MMAI suggest that MMAI is a potential selective releaser of serotonin.

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine↗
PubMed1994

Attenuation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) induced neurotoxicity with the serotonin precursors tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan.

Treatment of rats with serotonin (5-HT) precursors tryptophan (TRP, 400 mg/kg) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 50 mg/kg) was shown to attenuate MDMA (20 mg/kg) induced serotonergic neurotoxicity as measured by [3H]-paroxetine binding in the striatum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex of the rat brain. Hippocampal 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels were also indicative of the protective effects of TRP and 5-HTP. These results suggest that depletion of 5-HT stores is important for MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. The possible significance of this 5-HT depletion in MDMA-induced serotonergic terminal degeneration is also discussed.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1994

Drug discrimination and receptor binding studies of N-isopropyl lysergamide derivatives.

Isopropyl (IPLA), N-methyl-N-isopropyl (MIPLA), N-ethyl-N-isopropyl (EIPLA), and N,N-diisopropyl (DIPLA) lysergamides were evaluated for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-like activity. In rats trained to discriminate 0.08 mg/kg LSD tartrate from saline, each of the subject compounds completely substituted, with an ED50 two to three times larger than that of LSD except for DIPLA, which had an ED50 about eightfold greater. Similarly, all the compounds displaced [125I](R)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane ([125I]DOI) from rat cortical homogenates and displaced [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]8-OH-DPAT) from rat hippocampal homogenates with KI values similar to those of LSD, again with the exception of DIPLA, which had about nine- and fourfold lower affinities, respectively. Interestingly, all the compounds had four- to fivefold lower affinities than LSD in displacing [3H]ketanserin from 5-HT2 binding sites. Molecular modeling studies found that all the compounds had low energy conformations similar to LSD. No correlation between the activity of the compounds and the preferred conformation of the amide substituents was apparent. In summary, N-alkyl-N-isopropyl analogs of LSD retain LSD-like activity in drug discrimination and 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 agonist binding assays only until the N-alkyl substitution is as large as ethyl; LSD-like activity dramatically drops when the second alkyl substituent is N-isopropyl.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗
PubMed1994

Social reactivity and D1 dopamine receptors: studies in mice selectively bred for high and low levels of aggression.

Robust individual differences in social behavior have been obtained by selectively breeding Institute for Cancer Research mice for high and low levels of aggression. As previously shown, when paired with a non-selected group-housed partner mouse, NC900 mice exhibit isolation-induced aggression. Conversely, NC100 mice fail to attack, freezing upon social contact. Previous studies have established that NC100 mice have lower dopamine concentrations in nucleus accumbens and caudate nucleus, with increased dopamine receptor densities in these same regions. Thus, we wished to determine the effect of administration of a dopamine receptor agonist on social behavior. Mice of both lines were administered 0, 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg (SC) of the full efficacy D1 receptor agonist dihydrexidine, and their behavior was assessed in a social interaction test. Dihydrexidine reduced aggression in NC900 mice and nonagonistic approach in NC100 mice in a dose dependent manner. In both cases, this resulted from induction of a marked reactivity to mild social stimulation as measured by increases in behaviors such as escape, reflexive kicking, and vocalizations. Dihydrexidine had no systematic effect on the freezing behavior characteristic of the low-aggressive line. In independent experiments, mice were pretreated with either the D1 antagonist SCH-23390 (.1 mg/kg) or the selective D2 antagonist remoxipride (1.0 mg/kg), after which they received dihydrexidine (10 mg/kg) and were tested as above. The effects of dihydrexidine on social reactivity in mice of both lines were significantly antagonized by SCH-23390 but not attenuated by remoxipride.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aggression↗
PubMed1993

Synthesis and pharmacological examination of benzofuran, indan, and tetralin analogues of 3,4-(methylenedioxy)amphetamine.

Benzofuran, indan and tetrahydronaphthalene analogs of 3,4-(methylenedioxy)amphetamine (MDA) were prepared in order to examine the role of the dioxole ring oxygen atoms of MDA in interacting with the serotonin and catecholamine uptake carriers. The series of compounds was evaluated for discriminative stimulus effects in rats trained to discriminate saline from the training drugs (S)-(+)-MBDB (1c), MMAI (3), and (S)-(+)-amphetamine and for the ability to inhibit the uptake of [3H]serotonin, [3H]dopamine, and [3H]norepinephrine into crude synaptosome preparations. Behaviorally, the benzofuran and indan analogs 4-6 produced similar discriminative cues, whereas the tetralin derivative 7 did not fully substitute for the training drugs. The results in the in vitro pharmacology studies indicate that selectivity for 5-HT versus catecholamine uptake carriers may be modulated by the position and orientation of ring oxygen atoms. However, the nonoxygenated isostere 6 possessed high potency at all uptake sites examined. Enlargement of the saturated ring by one methylene unit to give the tetralin derivative resulted in a large (3-4-fold) reduction in activity at catecholamine sites.

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine↗
PubMed1993

Dopamine D1 receptors: efficacy of full (dihydrexidine) vs. partial (SKF38393) agonists in primates vs. rodents.

Although partial efficacy dopamine D1 receptor agonists have little therapeutic benefit in parkinsonism, the first high potency, full efficacy dopamine D1 receptor agonist dihydrexidine recently has been shown to have profound antiparkinsonian effects. One reason for the greater antiparkinsonian effects of dihydrexidine vs. SKF38393 might be that SKF38393, while a partial dopamine D1 receptor agonist in rodent striatal preparations, has virtually no agonist activity in monkey striatum (Pifl et al., 1991, Eur. J. Pharmacol. 202, 273). To explore this hypothesis, we compared the dopamine D1 receptor affinity and efficacy of dihydrexidine and SKF38393 in striatum from rat and monkey. In vitro binding studies using membranes from putamen of adult rhesus monkeys demonstrated that dihydrexidine competed for dopamine D1 receptors (labeled with [3H]SCH23390) with high potency (IC50 = 20 nM vs. ca. 10 nM in rat brain). SKF38393 was about 4-fold less potent than dihydrexidine in both monkey and rat brain. The in vitro functional activity of these drugs was assessed by their ability to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in tissue homogenates. Dihydrexidine was of full efficacy (relative to dopamine) in stimulating cAMP synthesis in both monkey and rat. SKF38393 was only a partial efficacy agonist in both rat striatum and monkey putamen, but contrary to the original hypothesis, it had the same efficacy (ca. 40% relative to dihydrexidine) in membranes from both species. Interestingly, greater between-subject variation was found in the stimulation produced by SKF38393 in primate compared to rat brain, although the basis for this variation is unclear.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
PubMed1993

Hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridines: novel dopamine D3 receptor ligands.

We report that certain substituted hexahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridines are novel high affinity ligands selective for the dopamine D3 receptor. These data demonstrate that substitutions on the heterocyclic nitrogen and the pendant phenyl ring of this nucleus cause a marked increase in both affinity and selectivity for dopamine D3 vs. D2 receptors. Thus, these compounds represent important new tools to study the pharmacology of dopamine D3 receptors, and may also provide an opportunity for the synthesis of new radioligands for dopamine D3 receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

5-HT2 receptor-mediated potentiation of dopamine synthesis and central serotonergic deficits.

The hypothesis was tested that serotonin (5-HT) modulates 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced increase in dopamine synthesis. Rats were treated with the selective 5-HT2 receptor agonist (R)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (R-DOI), the selective serotonin releasing agent 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan (MMAI), amphetamine, MDMA, or a combination of amphetamine and R-DOI or MMAI, followed by the L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) decarboxylase inhibitor 3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine (NSD-1015). Rats were killed 45 min after the first injection and striatal DOPA was determined. R-DOI, MMAI, or amphetamine alone did not increase DOPA accumulation. However, combination of amphetamine with either MMAI or R-DOI significantly increased DOPA accumulation. Multiple doses of the R-DOI and amphetamine combination did not decrease [3H]paroxetine binding sites at one week after killing. The results indicate that the dopamine synthesis increasing effect of MDMA depends both on 5-HT2 receptor stimulation and dopamine efflux.

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine↗
PubMed1993

Dihydrexidine: a new potent peripheral dopamine D1 receptor agonist.

Dihydrexidine (trans-10,11-dihydroxyhexahydrobenzo-[a]phenanthridine) was found to be a full dopamine D1 receptor agonist with a potency five times that of dopamine. Dihydrexidine showed no agonist activity at peripheral dopamine D2 receptors, alpha- or beta-adrenoceptors at the doses which produced near maximal stimulation of dopamine D1 receptors. The chemical structure of dihydrexidine shows that addition of a phenyl ring to a benzo[f]quinoline moiety bestows potent D1 activity upon a structure which had no such activity previously. This observation introduces a new factor in structure-activity considerations for dopamine receptor ligands.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Suppression of behavioral activity by norfenfluramine and related drugs in rats is not mediated by serotonin release.

Fenfluramine, a phenalkylamine with serotonin (5-HT) releasing properties, decreases motor activity in rats. The following studies assessed the contribution of 5-HT release to the behavioral effects of fenfluramine and norfenfluramine using a behavioral pattern monitor that simultaneously assesses locomotor and investigatory behavior. First, both fenfluramine and its active metabolite d-norfenfluramine dose-dependently reduced locomotor and investigatory activity. The norfenfluramine-induced reduction in activity was not antagonized by pretreatment with the 5-HT uptake inhibitor fluoxetine or the 5-HT synthesis inhibitor p-chlorophenylalanine, drugs that reduce drug-induced 5-HT release. Second, the d- and l-enantiomers of norfenfluramine were nearly equipotent at reducing behavioral activity, although d-norfenfluramine is more potent as a 5-HT releasing agent. Third, p-chloroamphetamine, a drug that shares the 5-HT releasing properties of fenfluramine produced locomotor hyperactivity in the same paradigm. Previous studies indicate that other 5-HT releasing phenalkylamines have behavioral effects resembling those of p-chloroamphetamine rather than those of fenfluramine. Finally, a structurally related drug, 4-methoxy-5-methyl-aminoindan (MMAI), produced dose-dependent reductions in behavioral activity that are similar to the effects of fenfluramine. The behavioral effects of MMAI were not antagonized by fluoxetine or by the 5-HT receptor antagonist methiothepin. These data suggest that the decrease in activity induced by fenfluramine, norfenfluramine and the related drug MMAI is not related to 5-HT release.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Novel serotonergic agents.

The preliminary structure-activity relationships are described for a series of substituted phenethylamines that induce the release of neuronal serotonin. Structures that also have the ability to release neuronal catecholamines are toxic to serotonin neurons, leading to long-term reductions in serotonin markers in rat brain. Conversely, compounds that are selective for the serotonin uptake carrier, and do not affect catecholamines, are not neurotoxic. It is suggested that these novel, selective serotonin releasing agents may find therapeutic utility in disorders where serotonin uptake inhibitors are currently employed.

Neurons↗
PubMed1992

p-methylthioamphetamine is a potent new non-neurotoxic serotonin-releasing agent.

p-Methylthioamphetamine (MTA), was compared to p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) in a number of pharmacological assays. MTA was about 2-fold more potent than PCA at inhibiting synaptosomal uptake of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5-HT), and about 7-fold and 10-fold less potent than PCA at inhibiting synaptosomal uptake of [3H]dopamine and [3H]norepinephrine, respectively. In drug discrimination assays, MTA was nearly equipotent to PCA in animals trained to discriminate saline from 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), or two related analogues S-(+)-N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine (S-MBDB) or 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan (MMAI). MTA caused dose-dependent increases of tritium efflux from superfused rat frontal cortex slices preloaded with [3H]5-HT, comparable to that induced by an equal molar concentration of PCA. The potential neurotoxicity of MTA was examined by measuring monoamine and metabolite levels at one week following an acute dose. A 10 mg/kg dose of PCA caused a 70-90% decrease of cortical, hippocampal and striatal 5-HT and 5-hydoxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels, while twice the molar dose of MTA (21.3 mg/kg) had no effect. Thus, MTA is a potent, selective, serotonin releaser, apparently devoid of serotonin neurotoxic effects. This work also supports the idea that catecholamine systems may play a critical role in the neurotoxicity of PCA-like compounds.

Amphetamines↗
PubMed1992

Benzofuran bioisosteres of hallucinogenic tryptamines.

The benzofuran analogues of the hallucinogens 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-alpha-methyltryptamine were synthesized and evaluated for affinity at the serotonin 5-HT2 and 5-HT1A receptors in rat brain homogenate, labeled with [125I]-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane ([125I]DOI) and [3H]-8-hydroxy-2-(N,N-di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]-8-OH-DPAT), respectively. At the 5-HT2 receptor, the benzofurans had slightly decreased affinities, approximately one-third and one-sixth those of the indoles, for the primary amines and the tertiary amines, respectively. The benzofurans also had lower affinity at the 5-HT1A receptor, but decreased only about 20-30% from that of the indole isosteres. Thus, the 5-HT1A receptor is less discriminating with respect to preference for an indole versus a benzofuran, although all of the compounds did have higher affinities for the 5-HT2 receptor than for the 5-HT1A receptor. It is suggested that benzofurans may be useful in the design of serotonin receptor ligands.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗