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Therapeutic effect of adenosine on experimentally induced acute ulcerative colitis model in rats
Gulcin Ercan1, Gurkan Yigitturk2, Oytun Erbas3
1MD, Department of General Surgery, University of Health Science Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Scientific, intellectual, conception and design of the study; technical procedures; analysis and interpretation of data; manuscript writing; critical revision, final approval.
Purpose:
To examine the therapeutic effect of external adenosine on an acetic acid-induced acute ulcerative colitis model in rats.
Methods:
Thirty male mature rats were divided into three groups as control, acute colitis (AC) and AC+adenosine group (AC+AD). AC was induced by rectal administration of 4% acetic acid (AA). 5mg/kg/day adenosine was performed i.p for 4 weeks to AC+AD group. Rectum and colon were excised for microscopic and histopathological histopathologic evaluations, and immunohistochemical analysis of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB). Blood samples were collected for biochemical detection of TNF-α, Pentraxin-3 and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.
Results:
AC group had generalized hyperemia and hemorrhage with increased macroscopic and histopathological scores compared with control (P <0.0001) while adenosine treatment decreased these scores significantly (P <0.001), with reduced distribution of disrupted epithelium, leukocyte infiltrates, and focal hemorrhage. AC group showed significantly increased immunoexpression of NF-kB in rectum, plasma and tissue levels of TNF-α, plasma Pentraxin-3 and MDA levels (P <0.0001) while adenosine reduced these levels (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Adenosine appears to promote healing of colon and rectum exposed to AA-induced AC, suggesting a boosting effect of adenosine on the intestinal immune system to cure ulcerative colitis.
