Effects of a new benzodiazepine derivative cholecystokinin receptor antagonist FK480 on pancreatic exocrine secretion in anesthetized rats

Inhibitory effects of a newly developed benzodiazepine derivative (S)-N-[1-(2-fluorophenyl)-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-4-oxo-pyrrolo-[3,2,1-jk][1,4] benzodiazepine-3yl]-1H-indole-2-carboxamide (FK480), a cholecystokinin (CCK) -A receptor antagonist, on pancreatic exocrine secretion were examinedin vivo in anesthetized rats. The antagonism produced by FK480 was competitive in nature because intraduodenal as well as intravenous infusion of FK480 (50–250 nmol/kg/hr) caused a parallel rightward shift of the entire dose-response curve for cerulein-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion without altering the maximal increase. The magnitude of the shift was proportional to the dose of FK480. The mean pA2 and ID₅₀ values of intravenously administered FK480 were 8.2 and 24 nmol/kg/hr, respectively, and those of intraduodenally infused FK480 were 7.7 and 168 nmol/kg/hr, respectively. Thus, FK480 given by the intravenous route was about sevenfold more potent than that given by the oral route. The antagonistic effects produced by intravenous FK480 were specific for CCK receptor in that the stimulatory effects of cerulein were inhibited whereas those of bombesin and secretin were not altered. In addition, intravenous administration of 50 nmol/kg/hr FK480 completely suppressed pancreatic exocrine secretion in response to intraduodenal infusion of 10% casein (400 mg/hr). FK480 was active as a CCK receptor antagonist for more than 12 hr because oral administration of FK480 (1.0 mg/kg) had significant inhibitory effects even after 12 hr on cerulein-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion. These results indicate that FK480 is a potent, competitive, and specific CCK receptor antagonist on the exocrine pancreasin vivo, having oral bioavailability and a long biological half-life.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (Intractable Disease of the Pancreas).