[Studies on anti-ulcer effects of a new compound, zinc L-carnosine (Z-103)]

We investigated the anti-ulcer effects of zinc L-carnosine (Z-103) using several acute experimental models of gastric and duodenal lesions in rats. Effects of Z-103 on various gastric functions, e.g., antacid (in vitro), anti-pepsin (in vitro), gastric secretion, mucosal potential difference (PD) and mucus contents were also examined. Z-103 given orally prevented development of gastric lesions induced by water immersion stress, histamine, HCl-aspirin, HCl-ethanol and also duodenal ulcers induced by mepirizole in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro, Z-103 had a greater antacid effect than sodium bicarbonate; and moreover, the potency of its anti-peptic action (IC50 = 8.7 mM) was higher than those of several other drugs (sodium bicarbonate, sucrose sulfate and aceglutamide aluminum). Intragastric treatment of Z-103 (100 mg/kg alone tended to increase PD, and it also significantly inhibited the decrease in PD induced by aspirin. In addition, pretreatment with Z-103 at 10 and 30 mg/kg (p.o.) significantly prevented the decrease in mucus contents in the gastric mucosa and also mucosal lesions by oral administration of ethanol. On the other hand, Z-103 was not so effective on both basal (pylorus-ligation preparation) and histamine-stimulated gastric secretion (Heidenhain pouch preparation). These results suggest that Z-103 is useful for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers in humans.