Pharmacology of EEDQ (N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline)

Abstract

EEDQ, a member of a new class of nonequilibrium alpha adrenergic blocking agents with marked central depressant activity, produced complete alpha blockade at approximately the same dose range as phenoxybenzamine (rat, cat). The effect produced on the central nervous system was similar to that of chlorpromazine (neuroleptic activity), and in the rat EEDQ was several times more potent than chlorpromazine. This compound (EEDQ) is of pharmacological interest since, in contrast to haloalkylamines, it possesses strong central depressant activity, and because the biochemical mechanism by which the compound induces irreversible changes at the alpha receptor is clearly different from that of the haloalkylamines.