The effects of two adamantane derivatives, 1‐trimethylammonio‐5‐(l‐adamantane‐methylammoniopentane dibromide) (IEM‐1460) and 1‐ammonio‐5‐(l‐adamantane‐methylammoniopentane dibromide) (IEM‐1754) on kainate‐induced currents were studied in Xenopus oocytes expressing recombinant ionotropic glutamate receptors and in freshly isolated neurones from rat hippocampal slices. The adamantane derivatives caused use‐and voltage‐dependent block of open channels of recombinant AMPA receptors. This antagonism was dependent on receptor subunit composition; channels gated by recombinant, homomeric GluRl and GluR3 receptors exhibited a higher sensitivity to block than those gated by receptors containing edited GluR2 subunits. In the former cases, IEM‐1460 had an IC50 of 1.6 μm at a holding potential (Vh) of −80 mV and IEM‐1754 was 3.8 times less potent than IEM‐1460. In contrast, 100 μm IEM‐1460 inhibited responses to 100 μm kainate of receptors containing edited GluR2 subunits by only 7.8 ± 2.4% (n= 5 oocytes) at a Vh of −80 mV. Native AMPA/kainate receptors in isolated hippocampal cells were inhibited by adamantane derivatives in a use‐ and voltage‐dependent manner. This antagonism was dependent on cell type: pyramidal neurones were less sensitive to IEM‐1460 (IC50= 1617 μm at Vh=−80mV) than interneurones (IC50= 1.6 μm at Vh=−80 mV). IEM‐1460 and IEM‐1754 were equipotent when applied to pyramidal neurones, but IEM‐1754 was less potent (∼3 times) than IEM‐1460 when applied to interneurones. It is concluded that the presence of the edited GluR2 subunit in recombinant AMPA receptors and native AMPA/kainate receptors inhibits channel block by organic cations and that adamantane derivatives are potentially valuable tools for identifying classes of AMPA/kainate receptors and their roles in synaptic transmission.

We report the presence of binding sites for permeant monovalent cations at the internal and external entrances to the channel of NMDA receptors. We measured the effects of changing internal cesium (Cs+) and external sodium (Na+) concentrations on the channel-blocking kinetics of the adamantane derivatives IEM-1754 and IEM-1857. Binding of Na+, or of Cs+ after it permeates the channel, to sites at the external channel entrance prevents blockers from entering the channel. Binding of Na+ to a blocked channel prevents blocker unbinding. Cs+ binding to a site at the internal channel entrance prevents IEM-1754 from occupying the deeper of its two sites of block. The results show the critical effects of permeant ions on the kinetics, affinity and voltage-dependence of channel blockers.

Open channel blockers of NMDA receptors interact with the channel gate in different ways. Compounds like MK-801 and phencyclidine exhibit pronounced trapping block, whereas 9-aminoacridine and tetrapentylammonium cannot be trapped. Some blockers such as memantine and amantadine exhibit intermediate properties, so called 'partial trapping'. To analyze the determinants of trapping we have synthesized a series of mono-and dicationic derivatives of phenylcyclohexyl. The blocking action of these compounds as well as that of amantadine has been studied on native NMDA receptors of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Use-dependence and kinetics of the blockade have been analyzed to estimate the degree of trapping. Dimensions of the blocking molecules apparently do not correlate with their trapping. However, the degree of trapping is voltage-dependent and correlates with the kinetics of unblock. For instance, amantadine behaved as non-trapping blocker at positive voltages, but demonstrated significant trapping at negative voltages. The data may be explained by the model in which the NMDA receptor channel has two binding sites: the shallow and deep ones. Binding to the deep but not to the shallow site allows trapping of the blockers.

1The kinetics of open channel block of GluR2-containing and GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors (AMPAR) by dicationic compounds (IEM-1460, IEM-1754, and IEM-1925 have been studied in rat hippocampal neurones using whole-cell patch clamp recording and concentration-jump techniques. Neurones were isolated from hippocampal slices by vibrodissociation. 2 The dicationic compounds were approximately 100 ± 200 times more potent as blockers of GluR2-lacking AMPAR than as blockers of GluR2-containing AMPAR. The subunit speci®city of channel block is determined by the blocking rate constant of a dicationic compound, whereas di erences in unblocking rate constants account for di erences in potency. 3 Hyperpolarization may decrease the block produced by IEM-1460 and IEM-1754 block due to the voltage-dependence of the unblocking rate constants for these compounds. This suggests that dicationic compounds permeate the AMPAR channel at negative membrane potentials. The e ect was particularly apparent for GluR2-lacking AMPAR. These ®ndings indicate that the presence of GluR2-subunit(s) in AMPAR hinders the binding of the cationic compounds and their permeation through the channel.4 The most potent compound tested was IEM-1925. The presence of a phenylcyclohexyl moiety instead of an adamantane moiety, as in IEM-1460 and IEM1754, is probably responsible for the higher potency of IEM-1925. Dicationic compounds are important not only as pharmacological tools, but also as templates for the synthesis of new selective AMPAR blockers which may be potential therapeutic agents.

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