Action of pentacaine on gastric acid secretion.

The action of pentacaine, a new prospective antiulcer drug with gastric cytoprotective activity, on gastric acid secretion was analysed and compared with the action of other antisecretory drugs. The drugs were given orally or intraduodenally to Wistar rats after pylorus ligation. The gastric acid secretion was studied under basal or stimulated (histamine, pentagastrin, carbachol) conditions. Oral administration of pentacaine, oxethazaine and procaine, in contrast to atropine, had no influence either under basal or stimulated conditions. However, intraduodenal administration of pentacaine significantly suppressed both the basal and stimulated gastric secretion. The present study suggests that the mechanism of antisecretory activity of pentacaine differs from that of anticholinergic and antihistaminergic drugs.