Abstract

We evaluated the effect of YM022 [(R)-1-[2,3-dihydro-1-(2'- methylphenacyl)-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl]-3- (3-methylphenyl)urea], a potent and selective gastrin/cholecystokinin-B receptor antagonist, on gastric acid secretion and gastric and duodenal lesions in rats. Oral YM022 (0.1-10 mumol/kg), famotidine (0.3-30 mumol/kg) and omeprazole (3-100 mumol/kg) dose-dependently suppressed acid secretion in pylorusligated rats with ED50 values of 0.83, 1.63 and 10.9 mumol/kg, respectively. YM022 (1-10 mumol/kg p.o.), famotidine (1-10 mumol/kg p.o.) and omeprazole (10-100 mumol/kg p.o.) prevented indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in a dose-related manner. The potency of YM022 was comparable to that of famotidine and was 8 times greater than that of omeprazole. YM022 and famotidine partially inhibited gastric damage induced by water-immersion and restraint stress, whereas omeprazole abolished these lesions. In an acidified ethanol-induced gastric injury model, all three drugs inhibited the formation of erosions. The YM022 dosage required in this model was much greater than that required in the inhibition of gastric acid. The inhibitory effect of YM022 was partially reversed by indomethacin, indicating the involvement of a prostaglandin-mediated pathway. YM022 (3-100 mumol/kg p.o.), famotidine (1-30 mumol/kg p.o.) and omeprazole (3-100 mumol/kg p.o.) inhibited mepirizole-induced duodenal ulcers. On the basis of ED50 values, YM022 was 5 times less potent than famotidine and as potent as omeprazole against mepirizole-induced duodenal ulcers. These results suggest that YM022 possesses antisecretory and antiulcer activities that are as potent as those of famotidine in rats and that YM022 represents a useful therapeutic agent in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease.