Effect of monosodium glutamate on gastric acid secretion in rats

The effect of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on gastric acid secretion was stud ied in the albino rat. Intragastric administration of a 4% solution of MSG increased the mean basal acid secretion from 1.35+/-0.12 mu Eq/10min to a p eak level of 8.96 +/- 0.49 mu Eq/10min after 60 min. Intramuscular atropine (7 mu g/kg body wt) and ranitidime (10 mu g/kg body wt) both significantly inhibited the MSG-induced gastric acid secretion within 30 min. It is sugg ested that gastric acid secretion induced by MSG is as a result of mechanis ms involving both histaminic and muscarinic receptors.