Inhibitory effect ofl-glutamine on gastric irritation and back diffusion of gastric acid in response to aspirin in the rat

Abstract

L-Glutamine given orally at 750 mg/kg significantly reduced the formation of gastric mucosal lesions induced by aspirin at 100 mg/kg at 1, 3, and 7 hours in pylorus-ligated rats.l-Glutamine markedly inhibited the loss of H⁺ and a corresponding increment of Na⁺ through the aspirin-damaged mucosal barrier, which suggests inhibition of acid back diffusion as the mechanism of action. In vagotomized rats, the diffusion of H⁺ from the instilled acid solution into the gastric mucosa and outflux of Na⁺ from the mucosa into the lumen was so strong that aspirin could not show any acceleration of a back diffusion of H⁺ in contrast to the aspirin-free group. However,l-Glutamine given with or without aspirin inhibited the back diffusion of H⁺ instilled into the vagotomized rat stomach.