Abstract

Receptor binding, behavioral, and electrophysiological profiles of 2-[N-(2-methylthio-4-isopropylphenyl)-N-ethylamino]-4-[4-(3-fluorophenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidine (CRA1000) and 2-[N-(2-bromo-4-isopropylphenyl)-N-ethylamino]-4-[4-(3-fluorophenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidine (CRA1001), putative novel and selective antagonists for corticotropin-releasing factor₁ (CRF₁) receptor were examined. Both CRA1000 and CRA1001 inhibited¹²⁵I-ovine CRF binding to membranes of rat frontal cortex with IC₅₀ values of 20.6 and 22.3 nM, respectively. Likewise, CRA1000 and CRA1001 inhibited ¹²⁵I-ovine CRF binding to membranes of rat pituitary. In contrast, both CRA1000 and CRA1001 were without affinity for the CRF_2β receptor when examined using rat heart. In mice orally administered CRA1000 and CRA1001 reversed the swim stress-induced reduction of the time spent in the light area in the light/dark exploration task. In nonstress conditions, CRA1000 and CRA1001 were without effect on the time spent in the light area in the same task in mice. Orally administered CRA1000 and CRA1001 dose dependently reversed the effects of i.c.v. infusion of CRF on time spent in the open arms in the elevated plus-maze in rats. Lesioning of olfactory bulbs induced hyperemotionality, and this effect was inhibited by either acute or chronic oral administration of CRA1000 and CRA1001 in rats. The firing rate of locus coeruleus neurons was increased by i.c.v.-infused CRF. This excitation of locus coeruleus neurons was significantly blocked by pretreatment with i.v. administration of CRA1000 and CRA1001. CRA1000 and CRA1001 had no effects on the hexobarbital-induced anesthesia in mice, the rotarod test in mice, the spontaneous locomotor activity in mice, and a passive avoidance task in rats. These observations indicate that both CRA1000 and CRA1001 are selective and competitive CRF₁ receptor antagonists with potent anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like properties in various experimental animal models, perhaps through inhibition of CRF₁ receptors. CRA1000 and CRA1001 may prove effective for treating subjects with depression- and/or anxiety-related disorders without the side effects seen in the related currently prescribed medications.