title: Improved delivery through biological membranes. 32. Synthesis and biological activity of brain-targeted delivery systems for various estradiol derivatives.
abstract: Brain-targeted delivery systems based on the dihydropyridine in equilibrium pyridinium salt redox interconversion were synthesized for estradiol, estradiol 3-benzoate, and ethynylestradiol. Initial biological evaluation indicated that while all four compounds synthesized exerted central estrogenic activity as measured by serum LH suppression, only the delivery systems based on the 17-substituted estradiol and ethynylestradiol demonstrated prolonged action (greater than 12 days). The 17-(1-methyl-1,4-dihydronicotinic acid ester) of ethynylestradiol behaved in a similar manner to the previously described estradiol analogue in various assays. Tissue distribution studies in rats showed that administration of the ethynylestradiol derivative resulted in high sustained levels of the corresponding pyridinium salt in the central nervous system (CNS) while blood levels of the oxidized metabolite rapidly fell. The sustained brain levels were associated with a prolonged release of ethynylestradiol. By 24 h, posttreatment, no ethynylestradiol was found by HPLC in the blood while levels of over 20 ng/g of tissue were detected in the CNS. This enhanced central delivery gave a dose- and time-dependent LH suppression, which indicated a three- to fivefold increased potency compared with the corresponding estradiol derivative.
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Design and Delivery, College of Pharmacy, J. Hillis Miller Health Center, University of Florida, Gainesville.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brewster
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Estes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bodor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D045166:Estradiol Congeners / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone