Gastric lesions induced by kainic acid injection into the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve in rats.

Kainic acid injection into the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMN) induced lesions in the glandular stomach of rats. A decrease in mucus production seemed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the kainic acid-induced gastric lesions. On the other hand, by means of horseradish peroxidase tracing method, the original cells projecting to the DMN were identified in the central nucleus of the amygdala, several hypothalamic nuclei and the insular cortex. Considering that kainic acid is a long-acting neuronal excitant, it was suggested that the continual stimulation of DMN neurons facilitated gastric ulcer formation.