The uptake of choline into cholinergic neurons for acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis is by a specific, high-affinity, sodium- and temperature-dependent transport mechanism (HAChU). Of several quaternary quinuclidinol derivatives tested, the N-allyl derivative proved to be most potent. Though the methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl derivatives were less potent at comparable concentrations, at higher concentrations they also maximally inhibited HAChU. The benzyl, hydroxyethyl, and methoxyethyl derivatives failed to inhibit HAChU by greater than 50% at concentrations up to 100 microM. N-Allyl-3-quinuclidinol (NAQ) proved to be a specific inhibitor of HAChU (IC50 = 0.9 microM) and a poor inhibitor of both sodium-independent transport (IC50 = 680 microM) and choline acetyltransferase activity (Ki = 200 microM). The NAQ exhibited noncompetitive type inhibition compared with N-methyl-3-quinuclidinol, a competitive inhibitor of HAChU. Thus, substitution at the N-functional group not only alters potency, but may change the mechanism by which inhibition is produced. The optical isomers of NAQ and several derivatives were prepared and employed to examine the stereochemical selectivity for inhibition of choline uptake. The S(+)-isomer of NAQ (IC50 = 0.1 microM) had approximately 100-fold greater inhibitory activity for HAChU than the corresponding R(-)-isomer (IC50 = 10 microM). With all other quinuclidinols tested, the S(+)-isomers were also more potent than the corresponding R(-)-isomers. In an effort to obtain a tertiary inhibitor of HAChU that would be expected to cross the blood-brain barrier following peripheral administration, 3-biphenyl-3-quinuclidinol (BHQ) and 3-naphthyl-3-quinuclidinol (NHQ) were synthesized and evaluated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)