Purpose: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors that are expressed by T -cells modulate T -cell proliferation, cytotoxicity and cell migration toward chemokines. Several studies have shown an anti-inflammatory effect of NMDA receptor antagonists. This study compares the effect of the noncompetitive low -affinity NMDA receptor antagonist N-(2-adamantyl)-hexamethyleneimine hydrochloride (hemantane) in a topical formulation (gel) with the cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor diclofenac in a topical formulation (gel) in rats with arthritis induced by Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA). Methods: On day 14 after an FCA injection into the left hind paw, rats with contralateral hind paw edema were selected for further investigation (29/65). They were treated with 5% hemantane gel or 1% diclofenac gel applied locally to hind paws daily for 2 weeks starting 14 days after the FCA injection. Rats with arthritis were examined hind paw edema, hyperalgesia, and motor deficits; their body weight and hematological parameters were recorded. The rats were euthanized on day 28, followed by histological examination of the ankle joint (HE stain). Results: Rats with arthritis exhibited hind paw inflammation and hyperalgesia, motor deficits, changes of hematological parameters, reduced weight gain and spleen hypertrophy. Histological examination of the ankle joint revealed degenerative -dystrophic lesions of the cartilaginous tissue, proliferative inflammation of the synovium, edema and lymphocytic/macrophage infiltration of periarticular tissues. Hemantane gel reduced hind paw edema, pain, motor deficits and histological signs of inflammation; its effect was comparable to diclofenac gel. Conclusion: Hemantane gel alleviates FCA-induced arthritis in rats, and its effect is comparable to diclofenac gel.

The efficacy of some aminoadamantane derivatives used as neurodegeneration treatments is due to their ability to block NMDA receptors. But this mechanism of pharmacological action can also produce analgesic activity. Analgesic properties of two aminoadamantanes, amantadine (20 mg/kg) and hemantane (20 mg/kg), which were uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists, were assessed in rodent models of pain induced by different pain stimuli (tail-flick test, acetic twitches test in mice and formalin test in rats). Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of hemantane and amantadine were evaluated in mice with acetic peritonitis and in rats with hind paw edema induced by formalin injection. The results of our study demonstrate that the analgesic activity of the 1-aminoadamantane amantadine differs from the 2-aminoadamantane hemantane. The analgesic activity of amantadine administered intraperitoneally was more pronounced in the case of acute thermal pain in mice compared to hemantane, and only amantadine had a significant analgesic effect on the acute early phase of formalin pain in rats induced by the effect of the algogen on the primary sensory afferents. Hemantane was more effective than amantadine for relieving pain produced by inflammation owing to its pronounced anti-inflammatory activity: only hemantane decreased the amount of acetic twitches in mice that received drugs orally and was effective in the tonic phase of formalin pain in rats.

Objectives: Antiparkinsonian drug hemantane is an uncompetitive, low affinity NMDA receptor open-channel blocker. Its closest analog is an antiparkinsonian and antidyskinetic drug amantadine. The aim of this study is to compare antiparkinsonian and antidyskinetic effects of hemantane and amantadine.

A large body of literature supports the idea that inflammation exacerbates neurodegenerative pathology. This idea is also supported by the fact that intracerebral or intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in rats. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the novel antiparkinsonian drug hemantane (N-2(adamantyl)hexamethylenimine hydrochloride), which is currently undergoing clinical trials, in models of peripheral inflammation and neuroinflammation and to investigate its ulcerogenic action, which is a common side effect of nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Acetic acid-induced peritonitis in mice was used as a model of peripheral inflammation. Effect on the stomach was investigated in rats were deprived of food for 16 hours and then were treated with 0.2 LD50 of hemantane or the comparator drug diclofenac sodium per os. Injection of LPS in the left substantia nigra pars compacta in rats was chosen as a model of neuroinflammation. LPS-induced body weight loss, forelimb akinesia and behavioral changes caused by irritating odor were registered in rats. Hemantane in the dosage range of 10 - 40 mg/kg demonstrates anti-inflammatory activity and significantly decreases the intensity of exudative reaction in a model of acetic acid-induced peritonitis in mice. Additionally, at the dose of 0.2 LD50 orally it did not damage the gastric mucosa of rats. In a model of neuroinflammation induced by a unilateral injection of LPS, hemantane (10 mg/kg) prevents weight loss, development of forepaw akinesia contralateral to the operation, and smell disturbance in rats. Effectiveness of hemantane in the animal models of peripheral inflammation and neuroinflammation make it possible to suggest a new application of hemantane as a safe anti-inflammatory drug.