Pharmacological characterization of N1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-N4-hexylpiperazine as a multi-target antagonist of α1A/α1D-adrenoceptors and 5-HT1A receptors that blocks prostate contraction and cell growth

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2014 Mar;387(3):225-34. doi: 10.1007/s00210-013-0935-3. Epub 2013 Nov 10.

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive disease related to the imbalance of cell growth and apoptosis, and it plays a key role in the development of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The main pharmacological treatment is based on α1A-adrenoceptor blockers, but in several cases monotherapy has failed. Recent studies of prostate pathophysiology have noted the role of α1D-adrenoceptors and 5-HT1A receptors in prostate cell proliferation in addition to the usual role of α1A-adrenoceptors in prostate contraction. N-phenylpiperazine is a scaffold structure that may confer drug affinity for these three receptors. Therefore, the present work aimed to investigate the pharmacological characteristics of N1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-N4-hexylpiperazine (LDT66). Using isometric contraction assays with rat prostate and aorta, LDT66 reduced phenylephrine-induced contractions and showed K B values of 3.4 and 2.2 nM for α1A- and α1D-adrenoceptors, respectively. According to the functional binding assays data, LDT66 showed a high affinity (nanomolar range) for the 5-HT1A receptors, behaving as an antagonist. LDT66 also showed a low affinity (micromolar range) for receptors unrelated to BPH such as α1B-adrenoceptors, α2A-adrenoceptors, muscarinic and 5-HT2A receptors, which is a desirable profile in order to prevent putative side effects. Accordingly, LDT66 (100 μg/kg) showed a marginal hypotensive effect. Using the DU-145 prostate cells, control experiments characterized the α1D-adrenoceptor- and 5-HT1A receptor-mediated cell growth by phenylephrine and 5-HT, respectively. LDT66 (50 nM) prevented both effects similarly. In conclusion, LDT66 is a high-affinity multi-target antagonist of relevant receptors for BPH, and it may be a new starting point for multi-target drug development to treat BPH and LUTS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Phenylephrine / pharmacology
  • Piperazines / administration & dosage
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Prostate / drug effects*
  • Prostate / metabolism
  • Prostatic Hyperplasia / drug therapy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
  • N1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-N4-hexylpiperazine
  • Piperazines
  • Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Phenylephrine