Kynurenic acid attenuates experimental ulcer formation and basal gastric acid secretion in rats.

Kynurenic acid is a broad spectrum antagonist at neuroexcitant amino acid receptors in the mammalian brain. Preliminary data indicated that kynurenic acid attenuates domoic acid-induced central nervous system pathology, lethality and gastrointestinal pathology. We now show that kynurenic acid significantly blocks restraint-cold stress ulcers, ethanol ulcers and basal, non-stimulated gastric acid secretion in normal rats not subjected to neurotoxin challenge. There may be peripheral actions, in addition to the central effects of kynurenic acid, in modulating normal and pathological gastric function.