Inhibition by Cow's Milk of Histamine‐Induced Gastric Acid Secretion in the Rat

Abstract

The effects of a 4‐day milk diet on basal and histamine‐induced gastric acid secretion were examined in vivo in adult rats. Rats were fed on raw cow's milk only. Their acid secretion was measured in the perfused stomach under basal conditions or after administration of varying doses of histamine. In milk‐fed rats, basal secretion rose slightly compared with control secretion (1.86 ± 0.09 vs. 1.52 ± 0.06 μEq HV+/10min; p > 0.01), but maximal secretion in response to noncumulative doses of histamine (range: 7.0–20.0 mg/kg) was inhibited by 57%. The degree of this inhibition was similar to that observed in control rats with an equimolar dose of H2‐antagonist cimetidine. These results indicate that in the adult rat, chronic administration of cow's milk strongly inhibits his‐tamine‐stimulated acid output.