The antagonism of histamine H2-receptor by SWR-104SA (1'-bromo-N-[3-[3-(1-piperidinylmethyl) phenoxy] propyl]-spiro [1,3-dioxolane-2,9'-pentacyclo-[4.3.0.0.(2,5)0.(3,8) 0.(4,7)]nonane]-4'-carboxamide monooxalate) was estimated using the isolated guinea-pig atrium and gastric acid secretion in rats. The concentration-response curves for the positive chronotropic effect of histamine on the atrium were displaced to the right in parallel without change in the maximum response by SWR-104SA and roxatidine acetate hydrochloride (roxatidine). The pA2 values of SWA-104SA and roxatidine acetate hydrochloride were 7.27 and 7.38, respectively. The slopes of the regression line of log (DR-1) against log SWR-104SA and roxatidine concentration were 1.00 and 0.92, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two compounds with respect to the histamine H2-receptor antagonism and/or binding manner in vitro. In the rat gastric fistula model stimulated by histamine, however, antisecretory potency of SWR-104SA was 3 times less than that of roxatidine. SWR-104SA given p.o. prevented the formation of gastric lesion induced by HCl-ethanol and indomethacin dose-dependently, roxatidine also prevented its formation by HCl-ethanol, but failed to prevent that by indomethacine. These antiulcer activities of SWR-104SA were shown at the lesser doses of antisecretory activity. On the other hand, roxatidine did not prevent the ulcer formation at the same dose level of antisecretory activity. These results indicate that the antiulcer effect of SWR-104SA is not caused by the antisecretory action alone. In addition, the mucosal protective activity of SWR-104SA for HCl-ethanol induced gastric lesion was independent of endogenous prostaglandins. Moreover SWR-104SA had inhibitory effects on indomethacin-induced gastric hypermotility in rats. These actions may partly explain the gastric protection of this compound and additional mechanisms such as mucosal blood flow could be involved in the antiulcer efficacy. Consequently, it appears that SWR-104SA is a new antiulcer drug that exerts a potent cytoprotective effect in addition to its gastric antisecretory activity.