Tic hydantoin sigma-1 agonist: Pharmacological characterization on cocaine-induced stimulant and appetitive effects

Activation of the newly identified σ1 chaperone protein is involved in several aspects of the psychostimulant and addictive effects of cocaine. The development of ligands that selectively target the σ1 protein may lead to putative potent anti-cocaine agents. Here, we synthetized substituted hydantoins with high affinity for the σ1 protein and evaluated their behavioral efficacy. Two pure enantiomers were designed and synthesized: tetrahydroisoquinoleine-hydantoin fused compounds 3 and 4. They increased cocaine-induced locomotor stimulation or sensitization. The most active enantiomer 4, facilitated CPP acquisition but failed to substitute for cocaine. When CPP was acquired with cocaine and then extinguished, 4 provoked reactivation of CPP. These observations showed that compound 4 shows a typical profile of σ1 protein activator, facilitating cocaine-induced behavioral effects. Preliminary ADME properties are in favour of an optimal therapeutic development. Such Tic-hydantoin compound may serve as a new effective agonist therapy in cocaine addiction.