Elobixibat, an ileal bile acid transporter inhibitor, induces giant migrating contractions during natural defecation in conscious dogs.

Background: Chronic constipation affects 14%-17% of the population. Elobixibat, a novel, ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor, has been approved as a new chronic constipation drug in Japan in January 2018. The present study aimed to examine the pharmacological effects of elobixibat on colonic motility in conscious dogs using a telemetry system.

Measurement of respiratory function using whole-body plethysmography in unanesthetized and unrestrained nonhuman primates.

Extended term, continuous measurement and observation of drug responses were performed to examine the feasibility of a custom-made whole-body plethysmograph for measuring respiratory function in unanesthetized, unrestrained monkeys. Using this apparatus, respiratory function (respiration rate, tidal volume, and minute volume) was observed for 23 hr in unanesthetized, unrestrained cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). The respiration rate, tidal volume, and minute volume in the light period (7:00 to 19:00) reached approximately 30% to 50% higher values than in the dark period (19:00 to 7:00), thus clearly exhibiting circadian variation in the cynomolgus monkey respiratory functions.

QT PRODACT: in vivo QT assay with a conscious monkey for assessment of the potential for drug-induced QT interval prolongation.

In safety pharmacology studies, the effects on the QT interval of electrocardiograms are routinely assessed using a telemetry system in cynomolgus monkeys. However, there is a lack of integrated databases concerning in vivo QT assays in conscious monkeys. As part of QT Interval Prolongation: Project for Database Construction (QT PRODACT), the present study examined 10 positive compounds with the potential to prolong the QT interval and 6 negative compounds considered to have no such effect on humans.

General pharmacology of KP-102 (GHRP-2), a potent growth hormone-releasing peptide.

The general pharmacological effects of the hexapeptide KP-102 (D-alanyl-3-(2-naphthyl)-D-alanyl-L-alanyl-L-tryptophyl-D-phenylalanyl-L-lysinamide dihydrochloride, growth hormone-releasing peptide-2, GHRP-2, pralmorelin, CAS 158861-67-7), which potently promotes growth hormone (GH) release by acting at both hypothalamic and pituitary sites, were evaluated in various animal experimental models. The administration of KP-102 showed no obvious effect at a pharmacological dose on the central nervous system. KP-102 had no significant effect on the autonomic nervous system and smooth muscle except a slight and transient increase in spontaneous motility of isolated rabbit ileum and contraction of isolated guinea pig ileum at high doses.