Inhibition of gastric mucosa carbonic anhydrase by pirenzepine in patients with gastroduodenal ulcers.

Pirenzepine (Gastrozepin) is a drug recently introduced in the therapy of gastroduodenal ulcer (GDU). Although its effect of decreasing acid secretion is clinically known, its mechanism of action remains uncertain. The authors present investigations proving by in vitro experiments carried out on pure carbonic anhydrase (CA) and on CA from human gastric mucosa that GZ is a strong inhibitor of CA. In this acceptation, GZ may be considered both an enzymatic inhibitor and an antagonist of histamine H2 receptors.