Strategies for developing retinoic acid receptor alpha-selective antagonists as novel agents for male contraception

Md Abdullah Al Noman, Rebecca A.D. Cuellar, Jillian L. Kyzer, Sanny S.W. Chung, Narsihmulu Cheryala, Trinh A.D. Holth, Soma Maitra, Tahmina Naqvi, Henry L. Wong, Ernst Schönbrunn, Jon E. Hawkinson, Debra J. Wolgemuth, Gunda I. Georg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reported here are the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a series of 26 retinoic acid analogs based on dihydronaphthalene and chromene scaffolds using a transactivation assay. Chromene amide analog 21 was the most potent and selective retinoic acid receptor α antagonist identified from this series. In vitro evaluation indicated that 21 has favorable physicochemical properties and a favorable pharmacokinetic PK profile in vivo with significant oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, and testes exposure. Compound 21 was evaluated for its effects on spermatogenesis and disruption of fertility in a mouse model. Oral administration of compound 21 at low doses showed reproducibly characteristic albeit modest effects on spermatogenesis, but no effects on fertility were observed in mating studies. The inhibition of spermatogenesis could not be enhanced by raising the dose and lengthening the duration of dosing. Thus, 21 may not be a good candidate to pursue further for effects on male fertility.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number115821
JournalEuropean Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume261
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 5 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS

Keywords

  • Male contraception
  • Retinoic acid receptor alpha
  • Selectivity
  • Structure-activity relationships

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