KW-5092, a Novel Gastroprokinetic Agent, Reverses the Norepinephrine-Induced Decline of the Gastric Mucosal Blood Flow in Rats

We examined the effects of KW-5092 ((1-[2-[[[5-(piperidinomethyl)-2-furanyl]methyl]-amino]ethyl]- 2-imidazolidinylidene) propanedinitrile fumarate), a novel gastroprokinetic agent, on gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) in anesthetized rats. Intravenous infusion of KW-5092 (0.1 mg/kg/min for 30 min), which did not affect the basal GMBF, reversed the norepinephrine (1 microgram/kg/min, i.v. infusion for 30 min)-induced decline of GMBF in the corpus and the antrum. The improvement by KW-5092 of the GMBF was abolished by atropine (0.1 mg/kg/min, i.v. infusion for 30 min). These results suggest that KW-5092, via cholinergic activation, could counteract the decline of GMBF induced by adrenergic activation.