Alterations of phospholipid metabolism in rat cerebral cortex mince induced by cationic amphiphilic drugs.

Cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) of varied clinical use were screened to determine their capacity to alter the pattern of labeling with 32Pi of cerebral cortex mince phospholipids. The altered phospholipid labeling patterns were qualitatively similar, the prominent features being reduced incorporation into phosphatidylcholine and increased incorporation into phosphatidic acid. Relative potencies were: (/-+)-propranolol greater than chlorpromazine = 4,4'-bis(diethylaminoethoxy) alpha,beta-diethyldiphenylethane greater than desipramine greater than dibucaine greater than pimozide greater than oxymetazoline = fenfluramine = haloperidol = chloroquine greater than amphetamine = no drug added. Propranolol was used to study the action of CADs further. Its effect was time- and dose-dependent but in contrast with pineal gland, no label appeared in phosphatidyl-CMP (CDP-diacylglycerol), nor did dialysis of the mince to reduce diffusible substrates or exogenous addition of substrates cause appearance of liponucleotide. Thus lack of diffusible precursors is not responsible for CAD effects in vitro. Pulse-chase experiments with 32Pi and [2-3H]glycol suggested that inhibition of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase may be partly responsible for the observed alterations in phospholipid labeling in the presence of CADs.