40749 RP, a pyridyl-2-tetrahydrothiophene derivative, is known to be a potent inhibitor of the gastric acid response to pentagastrin, betazole and a meal. In 6 healthy young volunteers, a single oral dose of 2 mg.kg-1 greatly reduced the gastric acid secretory response to sham-feeding. By contrast, neither gastric pepsin nor the plasma PP response were altered by the drug. No change was observed in plasma gastrin, motilin, VIP or somatostatin concentrations. The results show that 40749 RP is also active on the pure vagus-stimulated gastric acid secretion. The lack of effect upon gastric pepsin and plasma PP suggests that 40749 RP is not likely to act on the basolateral cholinergic receptor and that it affects further cellular steps involved in hydrogen ion secretion.