Effects of zinc sulphate pretreatment on gastric acid secretion and lesion formation in rats infused intravenously with graded doses of methacholine.

The effects of intraperitoneal pretreatment with zinc sulphate (22, 44 or 88 mg/kg) were studied on gastric acid secretion and lesion formation induced by methacholine (125, 250 or 500 microgram/kg/h) infused intravenously in rats with stomachs perfused in situ. Graded infusions of methacholine produced dose-dependent increases in gastric acid secretion and lesion incidence in saline-pretreated control rats. These effects were progressively reduced by increasing pretreatment doses of zinc sulphate. The relationship between these findings and the action of zinc on gastric mast cells is discussed.