Action of the racemate and the isomers of the platelet-activating factor antagonist bepafant (WEB 2170) after oral administration to guinea-pigs and rats

The aim of the present study was to clarify whether there is a difference in terms of potency and pharmacodynamic half time between the isomers and the racemate of the platelet-activating factor antagonist WEB 2170 (bepafant) after oral administration to guineapigs or rats. The following experiments were performed in the guinea-pig. Infusion of platelet-activating factor at 30 ng/ (kg × min) for 30 min to anaesthetized guinea-pigs induced a decrease of respiratory flow and mean arterial blood pressure. Oral pretreatment with WEB 2170 or isomers, respectively, 60 min before infusion of plateletactivating factor inhibited these changes in a dose-dependent manner. The ED50S for inhibition of r…