High Affinity Dopamine D3 Receptor (D3R)-Selective Antagonists Attenuate Heroin Self-Administration in Wild-Type but not D3R Knockout Mice

J Med Chem. 2015 Aug 13;58(15):6195-213. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00776. Epub 2015 Jul 23.

Abstract

The dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) is a promising target for the development of pharmacotherapeutics to treat substance use disorders. Several D3R-selective antagonists are effective in animal models of drug abuse, especially in models of relapse. Nevertheless, poor bioavailability, metabolic instability, and/or predicted toxicity have impeded success in translating these drug candidates to clinical use. Herein, we report a series of D3R-selective 4-phenylpiperazines with improved metabolic stability. A subset of these compounds was evaluated for D3R functional efficacy and off-target binding at selected 5-HT receptor subtypes, where significant overlap in SAR with D3R has been observed. Several high affinity D3R antagonists, including compounds 16 (Ki = 0.12 nM) and 32 (Ki = 0.35 nM), showed improved metabolic stability compared to the parent compound, PG648 (6). Notably, 16 and the classic D3R antagonist SB277011A (2) were effective in reducing self-administration of heroin in wild-type but not D3R knockout mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dopamine Antagonists / chemistry
  • Dopamine Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Heroin / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Receptors, Dopamine D3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D3 / genetics
  • Self Administration*

Substances

  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Receptors, Dopamine D3
  • Heroin