Effects of L-glutamine on acetylsalicylic acid-induced gastric lesions in normal and cirrhotic rats.

Cirrhosis of the liver in rats was induced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (0.1 ml/100 g of body weight, s.c.) biweekly for 13 weeks. In the pylorus ligation preparation, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) 100 mg/kg p.o. induced much more serious gastric damage in CC14-induced cirrhotic rats as compared with rats with a normal liver. L-glutamine 750 mg/kg p.o. prevented the ASA-induced gastric lesions in both normal and cirrhotic rats, even though the degree of the inhibition was weaker in cirrhotic rats. Gastric analysis indicated that L-glutamine 750 mg/kg p.o. markedly inhibited the gastric ionic changes (acid back diffusion) in response to ASA in both cirrhotic and normal rats.