Several 1-acyl-2-pyrrolidinone derivatives were synthesized as derivatives of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and their pharmacological activities and stabilities were investigated. The derivatives showed anticonvulsant effect on picrotoxin-induced seizure at a dose of 200 mg/kg. In particular, 1-decanoyl-2-pyrrolidinone (7) and 1-dodecanoyl-2-pyrrolidinone (8) had a high activity. The anticonvulsant activity showed a dose dependency. Some of 1-acyl-2-pyrrolidinone derivatives prolonged sleeping time which was induced by sodium pentobarbital and showed a recovery from disruption of the memory of passive avoidance response, which was induced by an electroconvulsive shock. As shown by the results of the stability study of 1-acetyl-2-pyrrolidinone (1), it was degraded in an acidic buffer and an alkaline buffer although 2-pyrrolidinone was stable. 1-Acyl-2-pyrrolidinone derivatives were degraded in liver and brain homogenates of mouse and rat. They showed a degradation rate in rat plasma. Conversion of 8 to GABA in mouse liver homogenate was demonstrated. These results suggested that the pharmacological activity of 1-acyl-2-pyrrolidinone is probably due to the release of GABA by hydrolysis of derivatives although further work is necessary.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sasaki et al. (1991) studied this question.