Published online Sep 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i9.2065
Revised: January 23, 2003
Accepted: February 18, 2003
Published online: September 15, 2003
AIM: To evaluate the effects of prucalopride on intestinal prokinetic activity in fast rats and to provide experimental basis for clinical treatment of gastrointestinal motility diseases.
METHODS: Gastrointestinal propulsion rate was measured by the migration rate of activated charcoal, which reflexes gastrointestinal motility function. 120 Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and received an intravenous injection of physiological saline (served as control), prucalopride 1 mg/kg, prucalopride 2 mg/kg and cisapride 1 mg/kg, respectively. The gastrointestinal propulsion rate was measured 1, 2 or 4 h after intravenous injection of the drugs.
RESULTS: Significant accelerations of gastrointestinal propulsion rate in prucalopride 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg groups were found compared with control group at 2 and 4 h (83.2% ± 5.5%, 81.7% ± 8.5% vs 70.5% ± 9.2%, P < 0.01; 91.2% ± 2.2%, 91.3% ± 3.9% vs 86.8% ± 2.6%, P < 0.01). The gastrointestinal propulsion rates at 1, 2 or 4 h were faster in prucalopride 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg groups than in cisapride group (84.0% ± 11.7%, 77.1% ± 11.9% vs 66.3% ± 13.6%, P < 0.01, P < 0.05; 83.2% ± 5.5%, 81.7% ± 8.5% vs 75.4% ± 5.9%, P < 0.01, P < 0.05; 91.2% ± 2.2%, 91.3% ± 3.9% vs 88.6% ± 3.5%, P < 0.05, P < 0.05). No difference of gastrointestinal propulsion rate was found between prucalopride 1 mg/kg group and prucalopride 2 mg/kg group (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Prucalopride accelerates intestinal motility in fast rats, and has no dose dependent effect.