Effects of rociverine and other spasmolytic agents on caerulein-induced delay in gastric emptying in the conscious rat.

Caerulein (C)-induced delay in gastric emptying (GE), due to pylorospasm, was used as an experimental model for a quantitative test of the activity of some spasmolytic drugs in conscious rats. Rociverine at doses of 10 and 15 mg kg-1 i.p., though not at higher doses, considerably reduced this delay. Of the other drugs tested only papaverine had this effect and to a lesser degree. Atropine, N-butylscopolammonium bromide and dicyclomine proved to be inactive or further reduced GE. The effect of spasmolytics on C pylorospasm seems to be the outcome of two actions possessed by the drugs in varying degree: on the one hand a pyloric sphincter relaxant action, which increases GE, and on the other a relaxant action on the smooth musculature of the stomach, which tends to reduce GE. The model used highlights the activity of the spasmolytics that act on pylorospasm at doses which per se do not cause a marked delay in GE.