RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 In Vivo Effects of Remoxipride and Aromatic Ring Metabolites in the Rat JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 1356 OP 1366 VO 283 IS 3 A1 Ahlenius, Sven A1 Ericson, Evalena A1 Hillegaart, Viveka A1 Nilsson, Lars B. A1 Salmi, Peter A1 Wijkström, Agneta YR 1997 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/283/3/1356.abstract AB The in vivo effects of remoxipride, in relation to some of its identified metabolites, were investigated in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The methods used included: (1) estimation of thein vivo rate of brain monoamine synthesis by measuring the accumulation of dihydroxyphenylalanine and 5-hydroxytryptophan after decarboxylase inhibition; (2) observations of spontaneous locomotor activity in a photocell-equipped open-field arena (≈0.5 m2); (3) treadmill locomotion (≈4 m min−1); (4) inclined grid (60°) catalepsy test; (5)d-amphetamine-induced (1.0 mg kg−1) hyperlocomotion;(6) quinpirole-induced (0.4 mg kg−1) hypothermia. By use of one or more of these tests, the findings with remoxipride were as follows: First, remoxipride had a late onset of action (up to 3 h). Second, potency and efficacy depended on exposure to hepatic metabolism. Thus, intraperitoneal administration was more effective than the subcutaneous route, whereas virtually all biological effects were lost on intracerebroventricular administration. The ED50 values (μmol kg−1, neostriatal dihydroxyphenylalanine accumulation) for remoxipride and a range of its phenolic aromatic ring metabolites were: remoxipride (≈20), NCQ-344 (≈0.01), FLA-797 (≈0.1), FLA-908 (≈2.2), NCQ-436 (≈25) and NCQ-469 (≈30). Considering remoxipride as a nonclozapine atypical antipsychotic drug, together with the fact that remoxipride behaves as a prodrug in the laboratory studies above, further characterization of the pharmacodynamic profile of its metabolites remains a challenge. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics