P₂-purinoceptor antagonists: II. Blockade of P₂-purinoceptor subtypes and ecto-nucleotidases by compounds related to Evans blue and trypan blue

Abstract

Effects of Evans blue and four derivatives as well as of trypan blue and four derivatives, mostly smaller fragments but two compounds with an additional ethylene bridge in the center of the molecule, were studied on contractions of the rat vas deferens elicited by α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-McATP; mediated by P_2X-purinoceptors), relaxations of the carbachol-precontracted guinea-pig taenia coli elicited by adenosine 5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADPβS; mediated by P_2Y-purinoceptors), and the degradation of ATP by rat vas deferens tissue.

All compounds shifted the concentration-response curve of α,β-MeATP in the rat vas deferens to the right, and most compounds increased the maximum of the curve. Each member of the Evans blue series was similar in potency to the corresponding member of the trypan blue series. Where three concentrations were tested, the Arunlakshana-Schild regression was linear, and the slope did not differ from 1. The apparent K _d values were between 0.8 and 385 μM. In the guinea-pig taenia coli, only the members of the trypan blue group were relatively potent, shifting the concentration-response curve of ADPβS to the right in a surmountable manner. In 2 of 3 cases where three concentrations were tested, the slope of the Arunlakshana-Schild regression was lower than 1. Apparent K _d values in the trypan blue group were between 5.2 and 324 μM. The removal of ATP from the medium by vas deferens tissue was decreased mainly by the members of the Evans blue group, with IC_25% values between 13 and 158 (in 1 case >1000) μM.

The results indicate that the position of the sulphonate residues at the terminal naphthalene rings of these compounds hardly influences P_2X purinoceptor affinity but greatly influences P_2Y affinity and ecto-nucleotidase blockade. Among active compounds, apparent purinoceptor affinity and ecto-nucleotidase blockade increase with the size of the molecules up to Evans blue and trypan blue themselves; introduction of a central ethylene bridge does not result in a further gain in potency. NH01, the desmethyl derivative of Evans blue, seems to be interesting because it is the compound with the highest P_2X- versus P_2Y-selectivity presently available.