Motohiro Takeda, Katsura Tsukamoto, Masaya Yamano and Hiroshi Uesaka
Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd., Shiosaki
363, Mie 511 - 0406, Japan
Abstract: The gastrokinetic activity of SK-951 ((-)4-amino-N-[2-(1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-5-yl)ethyl]-
5-chloro-2,3-dihydro-2-methylbenzo[b]furan-7-carboxamide hemifumarate),
a benzofuran derivative with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)4-receptor
agonist activity, was studied in rats and dogs. The effects of SK-951 were
also investigated in a model of vagotomy-induced gastroparesis in comparison
with cisapride. In rats, both SK-951 and cisapride enhanced gastric emptying
of liquids (phenol red) at a dose of 1 - 100 mg/kg, p.o. Gastric emptying
of liquid (acetaminophen) in fasted beagle dogs was enhanced significantly
by SK-951 (1.0 mg/kg, i.v.), whereas the effect of cisapride (0.2 - 1.0
mg/kg, i.v.) was not statically significant. Similar results were found
when radiopaque markers were given with standard meal to dogs with vagotomy-induced
gastroparesis. The delayed gastric emptying of radiopaque markers by vagotomy
was reversed by SK-951 (1.0 mg/kg, i.v.), whereas cisapride showed no effect
at doses from 0.1 to 1.0 mg/kg, i.v. These results indicated that oral and
intravenous administration of SK-951 accelerates gastric emptying of both
liquids and solids in animal models. Thus, SK-951 may be a highly potent
and useful prokinetic agent in comparison to cisapride.
Keywords: SK-951, 5-HT4 receptor, Gastric emptying, Vagotomy,
Gastroparesis