Agonists, partial

The term intrinsic activity (ia) was defined as a measure of the abiUty of the dmg—receptor complex to generate response. When ia = 1, a full agonist is defined when ia = 0, an antagonist is defined. Thus, values 0 < ia < 1 define partial agonists as follows, where R is the response to dmg and R is the maximum response achieved. 

A critical component of the G-protein effector cascade is the hydrolysis of GTP by the activated a-subunit (GTPase). This provides not only a component of the amplification process of the G-protein cascade (63) but also serves to provide further measures of dmg efficacy. Additionally, the scheme of Figure 10 indicates that the coupling process also depends on the stoichiometry of receptors and G-proteins. A reduction in receptor number should diminish the efficacy of coupling and thus reduce dmg efficacy. This is seen in Figure 11, which indicates that the abiUty of the muscarinic dmg carbachol [51 -83-2] to inhibit cAMP formation and to stimulate inositol triphosphate, IP, formation yields different dose—response curves, and that after receptor removal by irreversible alkylation, carbachol becomes a partial agonist (68). 

Beginning in the 1960s, ben2odia2epiae anxiolytics and hypnotics rapidly became the standard prescription dmg treatment. In the 1980s, buspkone [36505-84-7] (3), which acts as a partial agonist at the serotonin [50-67-9] (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) type lA receptor, was approved as treatment for generali2ed anxiety. More recently, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been approved for therapy of panic disorder and obsessive—compulsive behavior. 

Some P-adrenoceptor blockers have intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) or partial agonist activity (PAA). They activate P-adrenoceptors before blocking them. Theoretically, patients taking P-adrenoceptor blockers with ISA should not have cold extremities because the dmg produces minimal decreases in peripheral blood flow (smaller increases in resistance). In addition, these agents should produce minimal depression of heart rate and cardiac output, either at rest or during exercise (36). 

Recently, two examples of the separation of enantiomers using CCC have been published (Fig. 1-2). The complete enantiomeric separation of commercial d,l-kynurenine (2) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a chiral selector in an aqueous-aqueous polymer phase system was achieved within 3.5 h [128]. Moreover, the chiral resolution of 100 mg of an estrogen receptor partial agonist (7-DMO, 3) was performed using a sulfated (3-cyclodextrin [129, 130], while previous attempts with unsubstituted cyclodextrin were not successful [124]. The same authors described the partial resolution of a glucose-6-phosphatase inhibitor (4) with a Whelk-0 derivative as chiral selector (5) [129]. 

SYSTEM EFFECTS ON AGONIST RESPONSE FULL AND PARTIAL AGONISTS... 

System Effects on Agonist Response Full and Partial Agonists... 

FIGURE 2.18 Inotropic and lusitropic responses of guinea pig left atria to (3-adrenoceptor stimulation. Panels A to C isometric tension waveforms of cardiac contraction (ordinates are mg tension abscissae are msec), (a) Effect of 0.3 nM isoproterenol on the waveform. The wave is shortened due to an increase in the rate of diastolic relaxation, whereas no inotropic response (change in peak tension) is observed at this concentration, (b) A further shortening of waveform duration (lusitropic response) is observed with 3 nM isoproterenol. This is concomitant with positive inotropic response (increase maximal tension), (c) This trend continues with 100 nM isoproterenol, (d) Dose-response curves for ino tropy (filled circles) and lusitropy (open circles) in guinea pig atria for isoproterenol, (e) Dose-response curves for inotropy (filled circles) and lusitropy (open circles) in guinea pig atria for the P-adrenoceptor partial agonist prenalterol. Data redrawn from [6]. 

By utilizing complete dose-response curves, the method devised by Barlow, Scott, and Stephenson [9] can be used to measure the affinity of a partial agonist. Using null procedures, the effects of stimulus-response mechanisms are neutralized and receptor-specific effects of agonists are isolated. This method, based on classical or operational receptor theory, depends on the concept of equiactive concentrations of drug. Under these circumstances, receptor stimuli can be equated since it is assumed that equal responses emanate from equal stimuli in any given system. An example of this procedure is given in Section 12.2.1. 

Dose-response curves to a full agonist [A] and a partial agonist [P] are obtained in the same receptor preparation. From these curves, reciprocals of equiactive concentrations of the full and partial agonist are used in the following linear equation (derived for the operational model see Section 5.9.2)... 

It can be seen from Equation 5.7 that a more accurate estimate of the affinity will be obtained with partial agonists of low efficacy (i.e., as u v Vu o). Double reciprocal plots are known to produce... 

An example of the application of this method to the measurement of the affinity of the histamine receptor partial agonist E-2-P (with full agonist histamine) is shown in Figure 5.19. A full example of the application of this method for the measurement of partial agonists is given in Section 12.2.2. 

FIGURE 5.19 Method of Barlow for measurement of affinity of a partial agonist, (a) Guinea pig ileal smooth muscle contraction to histamine (filled circles) and partial histamine receptor agonist E-2-P (N,N-diethyl-2-(l-pyridyl)ethylamine (open circles). Dotted lines show equiactive concentrations of each agonist used for the double reciprocal plot shown in panel b. (b) Double reciprocal plot of equiactive concentrations of histamine (ordinates) and E-2-P (abscissae). Linear plot has a slope of 55.47 and an intercept of 1.79 x 10s. This yields a KB (1 — tp/ta) = 30.9 pM. (c) Variant of double reciprocal plot according to Equation 5.8. (d) Variant of double reciprocal plot according to Equation 5.10. Data redrawn from [10],... 

The affinity of partial agonists can be made in functional experiments by the method of Barlow, Scott, and Stephenson [9] and for full agonists by the method of Furchgott [11],... 

The relative efficacy of agonists can be estimated by measuring their relative maximal responses if those responses are considerably below the maximal response capability of the system (i.e., if they are both partial agonists producing <30 to 50% system maximal response). 

Method of Barlow, Scott, and Stephenson for affinity of partial agonists (5.9.2)... 

Maximal response of a partial agonist is dependent on efficacy (5.9.4)... 

In terms of the operational model, the EC50 of a partial agonist can also be shown to approximate the KA. The response to an agonist [A] in terms of the operational model is given as... 

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