title: Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonists containing very hydrophobic amino acids.
abstract: In a continuation of our studies on the effects of hydrophobic substitutions in analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), we have synthesized LH-RH antagonists containing the very hydrophobic amino acid 3-(2-naphthyl)-D-alanine (D-Nal(2)). The D-Nal(2) substitution was found to be effective when incorporated in positions 3 and 6. The most potent analogue containing two D-Nal(2) residues was [N-Ac-Pro,D-pF-Phe,D-Nal(2)]LH-RH (ED50 = 2.2 micrograms, rat antiovulatory assay, propylene glycol-saline vehicle). This analogue also demonstrates that the N-Ac-Pro substitution is as effective as the more costly N-Ac-delta-Pro modification. Analogues containing D-Nal(2) in combination with the hydrophilic D-Arg residue in position 6 were prepared. Neither N-Ac-Pro at position 1 nor D-Nal(2) at position 3 was effective in combination with D-Arg. N-Ac-D-Nal(2) at position 1 gave a highly potent antagonist ([N-Ac-D-Nal(2),D-pF-Phe,D-Trp,D-Arg]LH-RH; ED50 = 2.4 micrograms) that exhibited a prolonged duration of action (ED50 = 9.0 micrograms, corn oil vehicle, dosing on diestrus II).
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006728:Hormones / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D012995:Solubility; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone