Prucalopride(179474-81-8) is a potent and selective agonist of the serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtype 5-HT
4 (K
is = 2.5 and 8 nM for human 5-HT
4A and 5-HT
4B, respectively).
1 Prucalopride is greater than 250-fold selective for 5-HT
4 over a panel of 53 overexpressed receptors, including 5-HT subtypes, but does bind to human dopamine D
4 and sigma-1 (σ
1) receptors and mouse 5-HT
3 receptors (K
is = 2.3, 3.7, and 3.8 μM, respectively). It induces contractions in guinea pig colon with an EC
50 value of 33 nM, an effect that is blocked by the 5-HT
4 antagonist GR113808 but not the 5-HT
2A and 5-HT
3 antagonists ketanserin (Item No.
22058) and granisetron (Item No.
21239), respectively.
2 It also facilitates non-cholinergic contractions induced by electrical stimulation. In fasted dogs, oral administration of prucalopride increases colonic motility by inhibiting distal colon contractions (ED
50 = 0.04 mg/kg), an effect that is blocked by pretreatment with the 5-HT
4 antagonist GR125487. Prucalopride (5-10 mg/kg, s.c.) increases acetylcholine and histamine levels in the rat prefrontal cortex by 2.4-fold and 3-fold, respectively, and increases the power of hippocampal theta oscillations.
3 Formulations containing prucalopride have been used in the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation.