Effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) on Gastric Secretion in Rats

Gastric secretory studies using a 4-hour pylorusligation technique in rats were performed after using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a solvent for gastric carcinogens Single intragastric doses of 1 ml 50% DMSO reduced the 4-hour volume (vol) by 48%, titratable acidity (TA) by 20%, and acid output (TAO) by 57.3%. Pepsin was not affected. With 1 ml 100% DMSO, gastric secretion was mostly mucus and vol was unchanged, TA reduced 87.4%, TAO 91%, and pepsin 66%. Subcutaneous injections of 1 ml DMSO in varying concentrations inhibited gastric secretion in a linear fashion; vol (r = 0.605) and TAO (r = 0.626). TA was not decreased unless concentration of DMSO was greater than 50%. Pepsin was not affected. Concomitant decreases in succinic dehydrogenase activity were noted by histochemical techniques.