The promoting effect of bile acids on the development of gastric carcinoma was examined in rats treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). At the first experiment, two hundred and fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups; after oral administration MNNG (120 micrograms/ml) for 24 weeks, group 1 received tap water, group 2 administered of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) solution, group 3 had deoxycholic acid (DCA) solution for the next 12 weeks. Group 4 received CDCA solution and group 5 received DCA solution for 36 weeks without MNNG. At the second experiment, fifty one rats were divided into 3 groups; for the first 12 weeks, group 1 received tap water, group 2 CDCA and group 3 DCA. These 3 groups received MNNG for the next 24 weeks followed by tap water for 12 weeks. The incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma in MNNG-treated rats was significantly higher in group 3 (63.6%) as compared with that in group 1 (36.7%) in the first experiment. No carcinoma lesions was found in groups 4 and 5. In the second experiment, no significant changes was observed among 3 groups. Undifferentiated adenocarcinomas were identified in groups 2 and 3, especially treated with MNNG plus bile acids. The result suggested a promoting effect of bile acids, especially DCA, in stomach carcinogenesis.