Antiallergic activity and mode of action of N-[4-[4-(diphenylmethyl)-1-piperazinyl]butyl]-3-(6-methyl-3- pyridyl)acrylamide in experimental animals.

Antiallergic effects of AL-3264 (N-[4-[4-(diphenylmethyl)-1-piperazinyl]butyl]-3-(6-methyl-3- pyridyl)acrylamide, CAS 118420-47-6) were compared with those of ketotifen, oxatomide, azelastine and tranilast in experimental animals. AL-3264 inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats with an ED50 value of 6.1 mg/kg p.o. In inhibiting PCA, AL-3264 was the most potent among the antiallergic drugs examined. The anti-PCA effect of AL-3264 was long-lasting. Tolerance was not produced by repeated administration of AL-3264. AL-3264 inhibited antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in actively sensitized rats and in passively sensitized guinea pigs, with ED50 values of 14.5 and 0.44 mg/kg p.o., respectively. In the in vitro experiments, AL-3264 inhibited 5-lipoxygenase activity of guinea pig leukocytes with an IC50 value of 4.9 mumol/l, being the most potent among antiallergic drugs examined, and suppressed the antigen-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells with an IC50 value of 12.2 mumol/l. AL-3264 antagonized histamine-induced contractions in isolated guinea pig trachea with an IC50 value of 0.16 mumol/l. These results suggest that AL-3264 is an orally active, potent and long-lasting antiallergic compound which inhibits 5-lipoxygenase activity, histamine release and histamine H1 receptors at the similar concentrations.