Tarazepide

Nanosuspensions as a new approach for the formulation for the poorly soluble drug tarazepide

Poorly soluble drugs are often a challenging problem in drug formulation, especially when the drug is not soluble in either aqueous media or organic solvents. Attempts to overcome the solubility problem are, e.g. solubilisation with mixed micelles or forming a complex using cyclodextrines, but these approaches are of limited success. Another problem with new high potential drug is that these drugs often show bioavailability problems. One tried to improve the in vivo performance of poorly soluble drugs by reducing the particles size of the drug thus leading to an increased surface area and an increased dissolution velocity (Müller et al., 1994, 1999). Some of these problems occurred with tarazepide and therefore it was tried to create a formulation with this drug as nanosuspension which is suitable for intravenous administration.

Effects of intraduodenal administration of tarazepide on pancreatic secretion and duodenal EMG in neonatal calves

The influence of CCK-A receptor antagonism on pancreatic exocrine secretion and duodenal EMG, and the mechanism(s) involved in CCK-induced pancreatic secretion were studied in conscious calves. Seven 1-week-old calves were fitted with a pancreatic duct catheter, duodenal cannula and duodenal electrodes. Pancreatic exocrine secretion and duodenal EMG were studied following intraduodenal CCK-A receptor antagonist (Tarazepide), intravenous atropine, and intravenous or intraduodenal CCK-8 administrations. Tarazepide decreased duodenal electric activity, reduced interdigestive pancreatic secretion, especially protein; reduced cephalic and early postprandial (milk) induced secretion of bicarbonate and protein. Pancreatic protein secretion to intravenous CCK-8 was little affected by atropine, but was significantly reduced by Tarazepide+/-atropine; in contrast, protein secretion to intraduodenal CCK-8 was abolished by Tarazepide or atropine. We conclude that pre- and especially early postprandial pancreatic secretion are partly controlled via CCK-A (mainly mucosal) mediated mechanisms.

Melatonin and its precursor, L-tryptophan: influence on pancreatic amylase secretion in vivo and in vitro

Melatonin, considered as a main pineal product, may be also synthetized in the gastrointestinal tract from L-tryptophan. Melatonin has been recently shown to affect insulin release and its receptors have been characterized in the pancreas however, the effects of melatonin on the pancreatic enzyme secretion have not been examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin or L-tryptophan on amylase secretion in vivo in anaesthetized rats with pancreato-biliary fistulas, and in vitro using isolated pancreatic acini. Melatonin (1, 5 or 25 mg/kg) or L-tryptophan (10, 50 or 250 mg/kg) given to the rats as a intraperitoneal (i.p.) bolus injection produced significant and dose-dependent increases in pancreatic amylase secretion under basal conditions or following stimulation of enzyme secretion by diversion of bile-pancreatic juice. This was accompanied by a dose-dependent rise in melatonin plasma level. Stimulation of pancreatic enzyme secretion caused by melatonin or L-tryptophan was completely abolished by vagotomy, deactivation of sensory nerves with capsaicin or pretreatment with CCK1 receptor antagonists (tarazepide or L-364,718). Pretreatment with luzindole, an antagonist of melatonin MT(2) receptor failed to affect melatonin- or L-tryptophan-induced amylase secretion. Administration of melatonin (1, 5 or 25 mg/kg i.p.) or L-tryptophan (10, 50 or 250 mg/kg i.p.) to the rats resulted in the dose-dependent increase of cholecystokinin (CCK) plasma immunoreactivity. Enzyme secretion from isolated pancreatic acini was not significantly affected by melatonin or L-tryptophan used at doses of 10(-8) -10(-5) M. We conclude that exogenous melatonin, as well as that produced endogenously from L-tryptophan, stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion in vivo while increasing CCK release. Stimulatory effect of melatonin or L-tryptophan on the exocrine pancreas involves vagal sensory nerves and the CCK release by these substances.

Leptin is able to stimulate pancreatic enzyme secretion via activation of duodeno-pancreatic reflex and CCK release

Leptin, 16- kDa protein produced and secreted from white adipocytes is known to regulate food intake and energy expenditure. Leptin receptors have been detected in the pancreas and it has been shown that systemic application of this protein diminished postprandial pancreatic secretion. Leptin is also produced in the stomach and released into the gastrointestinal lumen but the implication of luminal leptin in the regulation of pancreatic enzyme secretion has not been elucidated. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of intraduodenal (i.d.) leptin administration on pancreatic enzyme secretion and to assess the involvement of afferent nerves and CCK in above effects. The secretory studies were carried out on anaesthetized Wistar rats with acute pancreatic fistulae. Leptin was administered to the animals at doses of 0.1 1.0 or 10.0 microg/kg i.d. Tarazepide (2.5 mg/kg i.d.), a CCK(1) receptor antagonist, was given to the rats prior to the application of leptin. Rats with capsaicin deactivated sensory nerves were used in part of the study. Samples of pancreatic juice were taken at 15 min intervals to measure the volume flow and protein and amylase concentrations. CCK plasma level was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) following administration of leptin to the rats. Intraduodenal administration of leptin (1.0 or 10.0 microg/kg) to the fasted rats significantly and dose-dependently increased pancreatic protein and amylase outputs. Pancreatic secretory responses to leptin were totally abolished by prior capsaicin deactivation of sensory nerves or by pretreatment of the rats with tarazepide. Under basal conditions plasma CCK level averaged about 15.46 +/- 1,4 pg/ml. Exogenous leptin, given i.d. at doses of 0.1 1.0 or 10.0 microg/kg i.d. to the rats with intact or capsaicin-deactivated sensory nerves resulted in dose-dependent rise of plasma CCK level, reaching the highest value at the dose of 10.0 microg/kg i.d. We conclude that leptin given i.d. stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion and this effect could be related to the stimulation of CCK release and activation of duodeno-pancreatic reflexes.

CCK regulates pancreatic enzyme secretion via short duodenal-pancreatic reflexes in pigs

Background: Different routes of administration of CCK-33 and blockage of CCK-A and muscarinic (m3) receptors are used in this study to evaluate the mechanisms by which cholecystokinin can stimulate the exocrine pancreas.
Methods: The experiment was performed on eight anaesthetized pigs during control conditions and after administration of the CCK-A and m3 receptor antagonists, Tarazepide and 4-DAMP, respectively. Catheters were surgically implanted in the pancreatic duct for juice collection and in the gastric and right gastro-epipoic arteries and in the jugular vein, so that infusions of CCK-33 could be made exclusively to the duodenum/stomach, duodenum/pancreas or general circulation, respectively.
Results: Infusion of a low dose of CCK-33 (13 pmol kg(-1)) to the general circulation did not affect pancreatic protein or trypsin output. When the same dose was given directly to the duodenum/stomach or the duodenum/pancreas, pancreatic output increased during both control conditions and after Tarazepide and/or 4-DAMP treatment, though the increase in trypsin output was lower after Tarazepide and/or 4-DAMP blockade. A high dose of CCK-33 (130 pmol kg(-1)) given peripherally stimulated the pancreatic secretion, but this response was totally abolished in Tarazepide and 4-Damp treated animals.
Conclusions: Pancreatic enzyme secretion due to CCK-33 stimulation depends on the presence of short duodenal-pancreatic peptidergic reflexes evoked mainly via low sensitive, probably CCK-B, receptors located in the duodenum/stomach. Pancreatic secretion evoked by peripheral CCK-33 in pharmacological doses was independent of m3 receptors blockade but depended on CCK-A receptors located elsewhere than in the duodenum/pancreas.