Summary: Piirpo.sc: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the structure-pharmacokinetic-pharniacodynamic relationships of a series o f N-alkyl and N,N-dialkyl derivatives of the new antiepileptic drug (AED), valproyl glycinamide (VGD).
Method.s:The following compounds were synthesized: Nmethyl VGD (M-VGD), N,N-dimethyl VGD, N-ethyl VGD. N,N-diethyl VGD (DE-VGD), and N.N-diisopropyl VGD. These compounds were evaluated for anticonvulsant activity. neurotoxicity, and pharmacokinetics.Ke.su1r.s: After i.p. administration to mice in the maximal electroshock seizure test (MES), DE-VGD had an ED,,, value comparable to that of VGD ( I 45 and 152 mg/kg, respectively), whereas in the subcutaneous metrazol test (sc Met) model, M-VGD had a slightly lower ED,,, than VGD (108 and 127 mg/kg, respectively). After oral administration to rats, M-VGD had an MES-ED,,, similar to that of VGD (75 and 73 mg/kg, respectively). Of the N-alkyl VGD derivatives stiidied, M-VGD had the best pharmacokinetic profile: the lowest clearance (5.4 L/h), the longest half-life (1.8 h). and the lowest liverextraction ratio ( 14%). N,N-dialkylated VGD derivatives uiiderwent two consecutive N-dealkylations, whereas N-alkylated derivatives underwent a single N-dealkylation process, yielding VGD as a major active metabolite.Conc1usion.c.: M-VGD had the most favorable pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile of the investigated N-alkyl VGD derivatives. VGD was found to be a major active metabolite of M-VGD and to be less neurotoxic than M-VGD. Therefore VGD rather than one of the investigated N-alkyl VGD derivatives should be considered for development as a new AED. Key Words: Valproyl glycinatnide-Metabolic Nde a I k y I ii t i o n-P h iir in ac o k i ne tic s-S t ru c t u re-P harm ac o k inetic-Pharmacodynamic relationships.Valproate (VPA), in addition to phenobarbital, phenytoin (PHT), and carbamazepine, is one of the four major antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Despite its lower potency compared with other major AEDs (in the classic animal models for AED screening), VPA has a broad spectrum of antiepileptic activity and is clinically used in various types of epilepsy and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders (1). VPA therapy has been associated with two rare but severe adverse effects: hepatotoxicity and teratogenicity. Because of these severe adverse effects, the use of VPA has been restricted in two subpopulations: children younger than 2 years and women of childbearing age. Hepatotoxicity, the most serious and fatal adverse effect of VPA, occurs predominantly in children younger than 2 years receiving polytherapy for their seizure disorder. In this special subpopulation, the risk of fatal hepatotoxicity is -1 :600 (2,3). VPA-induced hepatotoxicity results from the unsaturated metabolites, 4-ene VPA and 2,4-diene VPA, which interfere with the liver's normal metabolic function (3-5). The other inajor adverse effect associated with VPA therapy is congenital malformations appearing in the offspring of women with epilepsy taking VPA for seizur...