SUBTYPE-SELECTIVE ANTAGONISM OF NMDA RECEPTORS BY NYLIDRIN

The 1,4-di-substituted piperidines ifenprodil, eliprodil, CP 101,606 e nyl)-2-(4-hydroxy-4-phenylpiperidino)-1-propanol) and Ro 25-6981 R,S* ))-alpha-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-beta-methyl-4-(phe are allosteric antagonis ts of NMDA receptors. Inhibition of diheteromeric NMDA receptors by th is class of antagonist is characterized by pronounced selectivity for NR1/2B subunit combinations. In the current study, we assayed effects of nylidrin, a structurally-related non-piperidine, on recombinant and neuronal NMDA receptors. Nylidrin was a potent (IC50 = 0.18 mu M) ant agonist of NR1(A)/2B receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes and was at least 150-fold weaker against NR1(A)/2A and NR1(A)/2C receptors. The blockade of NR1(A)/2B responses by nylidrin was not surmounted by incr easing the concentrations of glutamate or glycine and was not voltage- dependent. Potency of inhibition increased similar to 3-fold upon lowe ring extracellular pH from 8 to 6.8. Nylidrin inhibited NMDA responses in cultured rat cortical neurons with similar potency and apparent me chanism of action as the NR1(A)/2B receptors. Our results suggest that nylidrin interacts with the same allosteric inhibitory site previousl y described for the related piperidine antagonists, and should serve a s a structural lead for designing novel subtype-selective inhibitors o f NMDA receptors. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.