Inhibition of PG production by MDL 035, a new non-steroidal non-acidic anti-inflammatory compound, in rat gastric mucosa and inflammatory exudate.

The effects of 3-(1-methylethyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3H-naphth [1,2-d]imidazole, MDL 035, a new non-steroidal non-acidic anti-inflammatory compound, on the production of prostaglandin (PG) in rat gastric mucosa in vivo and in vitro and in inflammatory exudate in vivo were studied. MDL 035 reduced PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels more effectively in inflamed tissue than in gastric mucosa when assayed in in vivo experiments, whereas indomethacin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are equally effective in both systems. MDL 035 is almost as active as indomethacin when incubated with gastric tissue in vitro. The better gastric tolerance of MDL 035 than of other NSAIDS is discussed in relation to these differences in in vivo and in vitro effects.