Effect of the oral administration of sepimostat mesilate on cerulein induced acute pancreatitis in rats.

The effect of a potent protease inhibitor, sepimostat mesilate (CAS 103926-82-5, FUT-187), on acute interstitial edematous pancreatitis induced by a supramaximal dose of cerulein, a cholecystokinin (CCK) analogue, was evaluated. The serum amylase activity increased 18-fold over normal control after the infusion of cerulein at 5 micrograms/kg/h for 6 h. The serum lipase activity showed a 235-fold increase. An elevated pancreatic water content, pancreatic interstitial edema, inflammatory infiltration and vacuolization of the acinar cells were found. Redistribution of cathepsin B shifted from the lysosomal pellet fraction to the zymogen granule pellet fraction was noted in the early stages. All these parameters of pancreatitis mentioned above were inhibited by FUT-187 pretreatment at doses of 30 to 300 mg/kg. These observations suggest that FUT-187 inhibits the redistribution of cathepsin B shift from the lysosomal fraction to the zymogen fraction in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis and improves the parameters of acute pancreatitis.