Enhancing effect of DQ-2511 on gastric emptying of spontaneously hypertensive rats

The present study was designed to clarify the potential of DQ-2511 (3-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]carbamoyl]methyl]amino-N-methylbenzamide: ecabapide) as a gastroprokinetic agent in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The gastric emptying of SHR was clearly retarded relative to that of weight-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats when evaluated by the acetaminophen (APAP) method with the semi-solid test meal. There was, however, no significant difference between both strains in gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) determined by means of a laser doppler flowmetry. A 2-week treatment of SHR with DQ-2511 (1 mg/kg, oral) stimulated gastric emptying without affecting body weight gain or indirect systolic blood pressure (SBP), whereas cisapride (3 and 10 mg/kg, oral) had no effect under the same conditions. The pharmacological characteristics of DQ-2511 as a gastroprokinetic agent are discussed on the basis of these results.