Comparison of serotonin agonistic and antagonistic activities of a new antidepressant agent Trelibet (EGYT-475) and its metabolite EGYT-2760 on isolated rat fundus.

Abstract

The effects of Trelibet (EGYT-475, N-benzyl-piperazine-picolinyl-fumarate) and its active metabolite (EGYT-2760, N-benzyl-piperazine) on the serotoninergic responses of rat stomach fundus were investigated and compared with those of MCPP (m-chlorophenyl-piperazine) which is the common metabolite of the arylpiperazine antidepressants Trazodone and Etoperidone. The contraction inhibitory potencies of the agents were determined on the equipotent contractions (EC50) to serotonin (5-HT) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha). Isotonic contractile responses to 5-HT were not affected by EGYT-475, however, both EGYT-2760 and MCPP produced concentration related and reversible inhibition of the serotoninergic responses. The IC50 values for EGYT-2760 and MCPP were 40.5 +/- 7.5 mumol/l and 125 +/- 35 nmol/l, respectively. The inhibition was selective for the serotoninergic responses, as the equipotent responses to PGF2 alpha were not affected. EGYT-2760 and MCPP displayed not only 5-HT antagonistic, but also partial agonistic activities on the rat fundus preparation. Maximum contractile response of the fundus preparation to MCPP was approximately 25%, to EGYT-2760 was 10% of the maximum response to 5-HT.