Butyrate Protects Myenteric Neurons Loss in Mice Following Experimental Ulcerative Colitis

The enteric nervous system is affected by inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Gut microbiota ferments dietary fibers and produces short-chain fatty acids, such as Butyrate, which bind to G protein-coupled receptors, such as GPR41, and contribute to maintaining intestinal health. This work aimed to study the GPR41 in myenteric neurons and analyze the effect of Butyrate in mice submitted to experimental ulcerative colitis. The 2, 4, 6 trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) was injected intrarectally in C57BL/6 mice (Colitis). Sham group received ethanol (vehicle). One group was treated with 100 mg/kg of Sodium Butyrate (Butyrate), and the other groups received saline. Animals were euthanized 7 days after colitis induction. Analyzes demonstrated colocalization of GPR41 with neurons immunoreactive (-ir) to nNOS and ChAT-ir and absence of colocalization of the GPR41 with GFAP-ir glia. Quantitative results demonstrated losses of nNOS-ir, ChAT-ir, and GPR41-ir neurons in the Colitis group and Butyrate treatment attenuated neuronal loss. The number of GFAP-ir glia increased in the Colitis group, whereas Butyrate reduced the number of these cells. In addition, morphological alterations observed in the Colitis group were attenuated in the Butyrate group. The presence of GPR41 in myenteric neurons was identified, and the treatment with Butyrate attenuated the damage caused by experimental ulcerative colitis.