TY - JOUR T1 - In Vivo Pharmacological Characterization of Indiplon, a Novel Pyrazolopyrimidine Sedative-Hypnotic JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 547 LP - 559 DO - 10.1124/jpet.103.063487 VL - 311 IS - 2 AU - Alan C. Foster AU - Mary Ann Pelleymounter AU - Mary Jane Cullen AU - Dacie Lewis AU - Margaret Joppa AU - Ta Kung Chen AU - Haig P. Bozigian AU - Raymond S. Gross AU - Kathleen R. Gogas Y1 - 2004/11/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/311/2/547.abstract N2 - Indiplon (NBI 34060; N-methyl-N-[3-[3-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-pyrazolo[1,5-α]pyrimidin-7-yl]phenyl]acetamide), a novel pyrazolopyrimidine and high-affinity allosteric potentiator of GABAA receptor function, was profiled for its effects in rodents after oral administration. In mice, indiplon inhibited locomotor activity (ED50 = 2.7 mg/kg p.o.) at doses lower than the nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics zolpidem (ED50 = 6.1 mg/kg p.o.) and zaleplon (ED50 = 24.6 mg/kg p.o.), a sedative effect that was reversed by the benzodiazepine site antagonist flumazenil. Indiplon inhibited retention in the mouse passive avoidance paradigm over a dose range and with a temporal profile that coincided with its sedative activity. Indiplon, zolpidem, and zaleplon were equally effective in inhibiting locomotor activity in the rat and produced dose-related deficits on the rotarod. In a rat vigilance paradigm, indiplon, zolpidem, and zaleplon produced performance deficits over a dose range consistent with their sedative effects, although indiplon alone showed no significant increase in response latency. Indiplon produced a small deficit in the delayed nonmatch to sample paradigm at a dose where sedative effects became apparent. Indiplon was active in the rat Vogel test of anxiety, but it showed only a sedative profile in the mouse open field test. The pharmacokinetic profile of indiplon in both rat and mouse was consistent with its pharmacodynamic properties and indicated a rapid Tmax, short t1/2, and excellent blood-brain barrier penetration. Therefore, indiplon has the in vivo profile of an efficacious sedative-hypnotic, in agreement with its in vitro receptor pharmacology as a high-affinity allosteric potentiator of GABAA receptor function, with selectivity for α1 subunit-containing GABAA receptors. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics ER -