The effect of gizzerosine, a recently discovered compound in overheated fish meal, on the gastric acid secretion in chicken

The effect of gizzerosine [2-amino-9-(4-imidazolyl)-7-azanonanoic acid], which causes gizzard erosion in chicks, on gastric acid secretion was studied in young chicks. Three-day-old broiler chicks given a diet containing synthetic DL-gizzerosine showed severe symptoms of gizzard erosion after 7 days. The pH of the gastric and duodenal contents of these chicks was lower than that of the control chicks, demonstrating that acid secretion was enhanced in gizzerosine-fed chicks. The pH of gastric contents was lower and the amount of total gastric acid was higher in 1-day fasted chicks injected with gizzerosine intravenously than in those injected with physiological saline solution. The intramuscular injection of cimetidine, H2-receptor antagonist of histamine, blocked the stimulation of acid secretion by gizzerosine and by histamine. Cimetidine added in feed also prevented gizzard erosion, which was induced by feeding overheated mackerel meal. The results showed that gizzard erosion developed after oral or intravenous administration of gizzerosine is caused at least in part by the enhanced gastric acid secretion. Furthermore, it was suggested that gizzerosine acts on H2-receptor of histamine and stimulates the gastric acid secretion in broiler chicks.