Pyrrolizidine esters and amides as 5-HT4 receptor agonists and antagonists.

A series of pyrrolizidine esters, amides, and ureas was prepared and tested for 5-HT(4) and 5-HT(3) receptor binding, 5-HT(4) receptor agonism in the rat tunica muscularis mucosae (TMM) assay, and for 5-HT(3) receptor-mediated functional antagonism in the Bezold-Jarisch reflex assay. Several pyrrolizidine derivatives were identified with high affinity for the 5-HT(4) receptor, including benzamide 12a (SC-53116), a potent and selective 5-HT(4) partial agonist that exhibits efficacy in promoting antral contractions and activity in promoting gastric emptying in canine models. Also discovered were 5-HT(4) receptor antagonists, including imidazopyridine amide 12h (SC-53606), which is a potent and selective 5-HT(4) receptor antagonist with a pA(2) value of 8.

SC-46275: a potent and highly selective agonist at the EP3 receptor.

The agonist properties of SC-46275 have been investigated in EP receptor subtype-specific smooth muscle assays. In the isolated guinea pig vas deferens (GPVD), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), via the EP3 receptor, potently inhibited electrically induced contractions with an EC50 of 5.4 +/- 1.

SC-49518 enhances gastric emptying of solid and liquid meals and stimulates gastrointestinal motility in dogs by a 5-hydroxytryptamine4 receptor mechanism.

SC-49518 (N-[exo-(hexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine-1-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-4- amino-5-chlorobenzamide HCl), a new benzamide gastrointestinal prokinetic compound, was investigated to determine its ability to stimulate gastrointestinal motility in vivo and whether these actions could be mediated by agonist activity at the putative 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)4 receptor. In conscious fasted dogs with strain gauge transducers and myoelectrodes, SC-49518 disrupted gastric and small intestinal migrating motility complex cycling for more than 3.5 hr.

Oxidant-evoked release of acetylcholine from enteric neurons of the rat colon.

In the presence of halides, granulocytes generate hypochlorous acid and, subsequently, chlorinated amines (chloramines). These lipophilic, potent reactive oxygen metabolites may contribute to the mucosal pathophysiology associated with inflammatory bowel disease. A common symptom of inflammatory bowel disease is mucosal secretion of fluid and electrolytes, leading to diarrhea.

Endothelin-1 stimulates contraction and ion transport in the rat colon: different mechanisms of action.

Endothelin-like immunoreactivity has been detected in all regions of the rat gastrointestinal tract. In the present study, we studied the effect of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on muscle contraction and ion transport in the rat colon. Isometric tension was recorded in colonic muscle strips oriented along their longitudinal axis.