Pharmaceutical composition for neurotrophic action

Abstract

The present invention provides a composition for neurotrophic action which comprises a compound of the formula: wherein Ar is an optionally condensed phenyl group which may be substituted; n is an integer of 1 to 10; R is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted; and Y is an amino group which may be substituted or a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocyclic group which may be substituted; or a salt thereof, which compounds are useful for preventing and/or treating (1) neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Creutzfelt-Jakob disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, etc.), (2) neuropathy in cerebrovascular diseases (e.g. impairment of cerebral blood flow based on cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral sclerosis, etc.), brain trauma, spiral cord injury, cerebritis sequela and cerebral palsy, (4) mental diseases (e.g. depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia, etc.), etc.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition for neurotrophic action which comprises a compound of the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 Ar is an optionally condensed phenyl group which may be substituted;  
 n is an integer of 1 to 10;  
 R is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted; and  
 Y is an amino group which may be substituted or a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocyclic group which may be substituted; or a salt thereof.  
 
     
     
         2 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein Ar is a group of the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 ring A is a benzene ring which may be substituted;  
 and ring B is a hetero ring which may be substituted.  
 
     
     
         3 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein Ar is a group of the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 X is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or a group of the formula R 1 —N< in which R 1  is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or an acyl group, ring A is a benzene ring which may be substituted, k is an integer of 0 to 3, and m is an integer of 1 to 8;  
 n is an integer of 1 to 6;  
 R is a hydrogen atom; and  
 Y is a group of the formula:  
                     
 wherein  
 R 2  is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted.  
 
     
     
         4 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises 3-[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidynyl]-1-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepin-8-yl)-1-propanone fumarate.  
     
     
         5 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 4 , which is for activation of choline acetyltransferase.  
     
     
         6 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , which is for preventing and/or treating Parkinson's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.  
     
     
         7 . Use of a compound of the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 Ar is an optionally condensed phenyl group which may be substituted;  
 n is an integer of 1 to 10;  
 R is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted; and  
 Y is an amino group which may be substituted or a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocyclic group which may be substituted; or a salt thereof for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for neurotrophic action.  
 
     
     
         8 . A method for using a compound of the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 Ar is an optionally condensed phenyl group which may be substituted;  
 n is an integer of 1 to 10;  
 R is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted; and  
 Y is an amino group which may be substituted or a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocyclic group which may be substituted; or a salt thereof as pharmaceutical composition for neurotrophic action in a mammal; which comprises administering an effective amount of the compound to said mammal.