Comparative 5-HT2-receptor antagonist activity of amesergide and its active metabolite 4-hydroxyamesergide in rats and rabbits.

Amesergide is an orally active ergoline amide, 5-HT2-receptor antagonist with a long duration of action. Since a major metabolite of amesergide is 4-hydroxyamesergide, we questioned whether the formation of this metabolite might contribute to the pharmacological activity and long duration of action observed after oral administration of amesergide. 4-Hydroxyamesergide was a potent 5-HT2-receptor antagonist with an affinity equal to or greater than amesergide under in-vitro conditions as measured by blockade of vascular 5-HT2 receptors, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-amplified ADP-induced rabbit platelet aggregation. Furthermore, 4-hydroxyamesergide, like amesergide, inhibited the pressor response to 5-HT after its intravenous administration to rats and was about 3-fold more potent than amesergide in this regard. 4-Hydroxyamesergide was also a potent inhibitor of vascular 5-HT2 receptors after oral administration to rats. After oral administration, 4-hydroxyamesergide had a similar or slightly greater duration of activity than the parent molecule. 4-Hydroxyamesergide, again like amesergide, also blocked central 5-HT2 receptors after its in-vivo administration to rats as measured by its ability to inhibit quipazine-induced increases in serum corticosterone. Thus, the formation of 4-hydroxyamesergide after oral administration of amesergide to animals and man may contribute to the potency and long duration of action of amesergide as a 5-HT2-receptor antagonist.