Open AccessPreventative effects of lactulose in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis
Author(s) -
Camuesco Desiree,
Peran Laura,
Comalada Monica,
Nieto Ana,
Di Stasi Luiz C,
RodriguezCabezas M Elena,
Concha Angel,
Zarzuelo Antonio,
Galvez Julio
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
inflammatory bowel diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.932
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1536-4844
pISSN - 1078-0998
DOI - 10.1097/01.mib.0000160808.30988.d9
Subject(s) - lactulose , colitis , leukotriene b4 , inflammatory bowel disease , prebiotic , nitric oxide , myeloperoxidase , laxative , pharmacology , nitric oxide synthase , tumor necrosis factor alpha , chemistry , medicine , inflammation , gastroenterology , biochemistry , disease , constipation
Aims: Lactulose is a drug used as a laxative that has been shown to promote the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, acting as a prebiotic and with a potential beneficial effect in inflammatory bowel disease. The present study describes the preventive antiinflammatory activity of lactulose in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis. Methods: Rats were rendered colitic by a colonic instillation of 10 mg of TNBS dissolved in 0.25 mL of 50% ethanol. One group of colitic rats received lactulose, which was incorporated in the drinking water (2.5% wt/vol) for 2 weeks before TNBS instillation, and colonic damage was evaluated 1 week after colitis induction. Different biochemical markers of colonic inflammation were assayed: myeloperoxidase activity, glutathione content, tumor necrosis factor α, leukotriene B 4 levels, and colonic inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In addition, bacterial counts (for lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) were performed in colonic contents from colitic rats. Results: The results show that lactulose exerted a preventive antiinflammatory effect in this model of rat colitis, as evidenced by a significant reduction of myeloperoxidase activity and by a decrease of both colonic tumor necrosis factor α and leukotriene B 4 production. This effect was also characterized by an inhibition of colonic inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, which is unregulated as a consequence of the inflammatory status. This beneficial effect was associated with increased levels of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria species in colonic contents in comparison with untreated colitic rats. Conclusion: In conclusion, the intestinal antiinflammatory effect of lactulose could be related to its prebiotic properties, supporting its potential use in human inflammatory bowel disease.