Synbiotics administration leads to attenuated mucosal inflammatory neutrophil infiltration and increased hematocrit in experimental ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to estimate the effects of synbiotics on laboratory, macroscopic, and histopathologic features in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) experimental colitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 Wistar rats received 5% of DSS in their drinking water for 8 days to induce ulcerative colitis (UC). Eight rats were sacrificed to confirm the presence of UC. The remaining rats were randomly assigned to two groups: the synbiotics group, which received synbiotics once per day and the control group, which received tap water for another 8 days. RESULTS: On the 8th day of DSS administration animals developed UC with bloody diarrhea. In the majority of the hematologic variables studied (hemoglobin [HB], red blood cells, platelets, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular HB), in bodyweight and histopathologic colitis score there was no significant difference between groups. However, the synbiotics group, compared to control, presented a significantly greater colon length on the 4th day, significantly increased hematocrit (HT) on the 8th day, and a significantly decreased number of myeloperoxidase positive cells on the 8th day. Furthermore, there was a trend toward histopathological and clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of synbiotics in the experimental UC results in an attenuation of mucosal inflammatory neutrophil infiltration and an increase in HT.

OBJETIVO: Estimar los efectos de los simbióticos en la colitis experimental causada por dextrano sulfato de sodio (DSS). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Cuarenta ratas Wistar recibieron DSS al 5% en su agua de beber por 8 días para inducir colitis ulcerosa (CU). Ocho ratas fueron sacrificadas para confirmar la presencia de CU. Las ratas restantes fueron asignadas aleatoriamente a dos grupos: un grupo que recibió simbióticos una vez al día y un grupo control que recibió agua del grifo por 8 días. RESULTADOS: En el octavo día de la administración de DSS los animales desarrollaron CU con diarrea sanguinolenta. En la mayoría de las variables hematológicas estudiadas (hemoglobina, glóbulos rojos, plaquetas, volumen corpuscular medio, hemoglobina corpuscular media), en el peso corporal y en la clasificación histopatológica de la CU no hubo diferencias significativas entre los grupos. Sin embargo, el grupo con simbióticos, en comparación con el grupo control, presentó una longitud del colon más larga en el cuarto día, un hematocrito muy aumentado en el octavo día y un número de células mieloperoxidasa positivas significativamente reducido en el octavo día. Además, hubo una tendencia hacia un mejoramiento histopatológico y clínico. CONCLUSIONES: La administración de simbióticos en la CU experimental tiene como resultado una atenuación de la infiltración inflamatoria de neutrófilos de la mucosa y un aumento del hematocrito.

Omega 3 fatty acids supplementation has an ameliorative effect in experimental ulcerative colitis despite increased colonic neutrophil infiltration.

PURPOSE: omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and can be beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis. Dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) colitis in rats appears to mimic nearly all of the morphological characteristics and lesion distributions of ulcerative colitis. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of omega 3 fatty acids in the treatment of experimental ulcerative colitis. METHODS: thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly assigned to group A or group B receiving 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in their drinking water for eight days. For the next eight days post-DSS, group A animals received tap-water, and group B animals were fed a nutritional solution containing high levels of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ProSure®, Abbott Laboratories, Zwolle, Netherlands) once per day, administrated with a orogastric feeding tube. RESULTS: animals fed an omega 3 rich diet exhibited a statistically significant increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, compared to animals drinking tap water, and a trend towards histopathological and clinical improvement, with the administration of omega 3 fatty acids ameliorating epithelial erosion by day 8 post-DSS, but no statistically significant difference was observed between group A and group B animals at 4 or 8 days post-DSS. Also, a statistically significant increase in neutrophil infiltration was observed, as depicted by myelohyperoxidase activity. CONCLUSION: our findings support a positive role of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis despite the increased colonic neutrophil infiltration. Further studies are needed in order to investigate the role of increased neutrophils in colonic mucosa.

Omega 3 fatty acids supplementation has an ameliorative effect in experimental ulcerative colitis despite increased colonic neutrophil infiltration / Los suplementos de ácidos grasos omega 3 tienen efectos beneficiosos en colitis ulcerosa a pesar del aumento de la infiltracción por neutrófilos del colon

Purpose: omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and can be beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis. Dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) colitis in rats appears to mimic nearly all of the morphological characteristics and lesion distributions of ulcerative colitis. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of omega 3 fatty acids in the treatment of experimental ulcerative colitis. Methods: thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly assigned to group A or group B receiving 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in their drinking water for eight days. For the next eight days post-DSS, group A animals received tap-water, and group B animals were fed a nutritional solution containing high levels of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ProSure®, Abbott Laboratories, Zwolle, Netherlands) once per day, administrated with a orogastric feeding tube. Results: animals fed an omega 3 rich diet exhibited a statistically significant increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, compared to animals drinking tap water, and a trend towards histopathological and clinical improvement, with the administration of omega 3 fatty acids ameliorating epithelial erosion by day 8 post-DSS, but no statistically significant difference was observed between group A and group B animals at 4 or 8 days post-DSS. Also, a statistically significant increase in neutrophil infiltration was observed, as depicted by myelohyperoxidase activity. Conclusion: our findings support a positive role of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis despite the increased colonic neutrophil infiltration. Further studies are needed in order to investigate the role of increased neutrophils in colonic mucosa(AU)