In its many embodiments, the present invention provides tetracyclic
compounds of formula I or formula II (wherein the various moieties are as
defined herein) useful as metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)
antagonists, particularly as selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 1
antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and
methods of treatment using the compounds and compositions to treat
diseases associated with metabotropic glutamate receptor (e.g., mGluR1)
such as, for example, pain, migraine, anxiety, urinary incontinence and
neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimers disease.